Absolute Horse - December 2018/January 2019

E M K ’M C - I E! PI UP RE

F

Absolute

DECEMBER 2018 & JANUARY 2019

FULL REPORT INSIDE: SEIB Insurance Brokers

a r o f h Searc M & M r a t S ! p i h s n o i Champ

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

PLUS

STYLISH COUNTRY & EQUESTRIAN CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE...

DECEMBER

2018 ISSUE 329 JANUARY

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20

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2019

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Chantelle Chapman riding Greenholme Falcon took the first ever SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland Championship.

Report on page 58.

Photo: SMR Photos

REGULARS 4 News 5 Ariat Saddle Snaps 15 Catch Up With...Gaby Lucas 19 Rhea Asks...Are you ready for 2019?

50 Lisa’s Life 52 Love Dogs: Armistice Centenary 55 Reports 62 Vets Directory/Classifieds 64 Showdates COMPETITIONS, GIVEAWAYS & OFFERS 15 Equitheme

Though every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, PCD Media Ltd cannot be held responsible for the opinions expressed in the magazine. The opinions and technical information in the articles are those of the authors.

24 27 43 67

TopSpec Mollichaff Equisafety Gladwells: Equerry and TopSpec offer FEATURES 6 Special Feature: Rehoming from Redwings 8 Christmas Gift Guide Part 2 20 Nutrition 30 Health & Welfare: including advice from Mary King 46 Saddlery & Tack 48 The Professionals - including John Whitaker and Caroline Powell

How to contact and connect with us...

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INSIDE

WHAT’S

01473 731220

office@ahmagazine.com

www.issuu.com

facebook.com/Absolute-Horse

#abfabnagmag

www.absolutehorsemagazine.com

PCD Media ( East Anglia) Ltd, Home Barn, Grove Hill, Belstead, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 3LS

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NEWS

Photo: Adam Fanthorpe

BRITISH EVENTING CELEBRATES SUCCESS WITH THE 2018 LEAGUES

With the 2018 British Eventing season concluded, the winners of the prestigious BE leagues have been announced.

In the Leading Under 21 Rider catagory Yasmin Ingham won the Goldman Cup for the leading BE rider aged under 21. On a total of 346 BE Points, Yasmin takes the prestigious title ahead of the winner from the previous two years, Sam Ecroyd on 333 BE Points, and Suffolk’s Bubby Upton who, for a second year in a row, finishes in third place, this year on 265 BE Points.

Bubby also took second place in the Calver Wealth Management 2* League with Rachel Upton’s 8-year-old gelding Cola III on 44 BE Points.

AHT UK EQUESTRIAN AWARDS

The annual Animal Health Trust (AHT) UK Equestrian Awards brought together British and equestrian royalty at The Dorchester, Park Lane on 31st October.

The AHT’s long standing President, HRH The Princess Royal, welcomed professional riders, trainers, leading THAT EXTRA MILE: YOUR CHANCE equine vets and charity supporters to the 30th anniversary event.

TO REWARD GREAT SERVICE This event is not only a wonderful exhibition of “SEIB is proud to have supported this The search is on to find the winners equestrian excellence, but is an essential fundraiser for of the 2019 BETA Business Awards – award from the start,” said Nicolina the AHT to continue its work for the benefit of dogs, Mackenzie, the company’s marketing people and companies who have cats and horses. Every penny of profit made or raised manager. “This award is voted for by gone that extra mile to support the by the AHT is reinvested into its industry-leading customers, it is a true reflection of the science and care for animals. equestrian industry. level of service that retailers offer.”

There are 11 awards and consumers One of the winners announced on the night was Mike “It is important for all businesses and have the chance to nominate winners Tucker who won the SEIB Insurance Brokers Unsung brands to move with the times and use Hero Award. in four of the 10 categories – SEIB the many promotional platforms Retailer of the Year, Stubbs England Mike sadly passed away in 2018 and the award was available to increase awareness and Nutritional Helpline of the Year, The collected on his behalf by his wife Angela, son Andrew Equestrian Event of the Year supported sales,” said TSM’s Tim Smith. and daughter Emma pictured above with HRH The

by Henson Franklyn and the TSM Social Nominations close 5th December.

Princess Royal and Suzy Middleton of SEIB far right. www.beta-uk.org Media Award.

EBA NEWS UPDATE

Winner of the 2017 BHS Access Award, the Essex Bridleways Association (EBA) is run by a team of dedicated volunteers and its annual series of leisure rides now fund 3 part-time researchers.

Whilst the group is primarily concerned with local Rights of Way issues, there are matters which concern equestrians nationally, including the Agriculture Bill, lack of council funding, and a general lack of consideration for horse riders when it comes to planning and safe, off-road access.

It is therefore vital that all horse owners support their local access groups in order to make our collective voice heard. To read the Essex Bridleways Association’s latest Update magazine visit: www.issuu.com/essexbridlewaysassociation www.essexbridleways.co.uk Competition Winners: Toggi Jo Rose - Suffolk. Equitheme Julia Hicks - Suffolk; Lesley White - Norfolk; Lisa Clayden - Essex; Rachel Chisnell - Essex; Sarah Flatman - Norfolk. Liverpool Int Horse Show Louise Harding Cambs; Sarah Chowings - Norfolk; Vanessa Hill, Lancs.

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SADDLE SNAPS

SADDLE

WINNER!

SNAPS Our new competition where each month an Absolute Horse reader will win a pair of

ARIAT BURFORD BOOTS worth over £130!

Sponsored by

- Christy Seaman - Catherine McNab “Pearly Grin!”

“Please mum, can I have some more?”

- Maysie Philpot

- Brian Osman

“Khalifa! What have you done?!”

- Jo Bates

“You gotta be joking!”

“Mummy you’re so thoughtful… now give me my dinner!”

- Ami Clarke “Haha! Look at our human picking up our poop!”

Entry is easy, simply email a candid photo of your horse to

snaps@ ahmagazine.com

Don't forget to include your contact details and a caption to your pic! Best pic/caption wins the boots.

Good luck!

- Jenn Short

“Dentist! Who me?”

- Beth Reffell

“No riding today, I’m sunbathing!”

- Debbie Cassidy

“Is this what you meant about a new Horslyx? Tastes kinda funny!”

- Holly Acton “I will NOT put my ears forwards!”

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SPECIAL FEATURE

REHOMING FROM

I

f you’re thinking about welcoming a new fourlegged friend into your family this New Year, why not consider rehoming a rescued horse?

For over 10 years, Redwings Horse Sanctuary has been helping rescued horses find loving homes through its Guardianship Scheme.

Rehoming a rescued horse from Redwings is incredibly rewarding. You’re not only giving a horse a second chance in life and building a special bond with a companion who will provide years of friendship, but you’re also making room for another horse to thrive at the Sanctuary.

Sadly, the UK is in the midst of a horse welfare crisis and the number of horses at risk of neglect or abandonment remains at a very high level.

With winter on our doorsteps, horses up and down the country are at their most vulnerable. It’s no surprise then that the Sanctuary, like many others, is full.

That’s why Redwings is embarking on an exciting expansion of its rehoming scheme to ensure space always remains available for those animals most in need.

In 2018, the charity broke ground on two new rehoming centres at its Caldecott Visitor Centre in Norfolk and Oxhill Visitor Centre in Warwickshire, which will significantly increase the number of horses ready to find Guardian homes, either to be ridden or to live as companions for other horses.

Redwings has also begun rehoming unbacked project horses; rescued horses and ponies who have undergone basic handling training but have the potential to become fantastic all-rounders with the guidance of an experienced Guardian.

So, whatever your needs, the horse you’re looking for could be at Redwings! To become a Redwings Guardian, visit www.redwings.org.uk/rehoming to see which horses are looking for homes in your area.

A Redwings pony undertaking handling training with the Rehoming team

Redwings Oakley is enjoying showing with Guardian Leo.

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Redwings

Rehoming a Redwings horse is free, but the charity requests a £50 deposit for their passport and welcomes any donations to help fund the future training of the horses in its care.

Following your application, the Rehoming team will arrange a home visit to make sure you have the necessary facilities and you’ll be invited to meet (and enjoy plenty of cuddles!) with your chosen horse at the Sanctuary, where you’ll also

be given their full health history.

As a Guardian, you’ll be responsible for the day-to-day care of your Redwings horse, but the Rehoming team will always be on the end of the line if you need advice. And, although Redwings looks for a permanent home for every horse, they will always have a place back at the Sanctuary if they need it. www.redwings.org.uk

Redwings Quincy loves hacks with Guardian Mary

A Redwings rescued horse undergoing ridden training with the Rehoming team

A

preliminary investigation into the online sale of horses has led national pet charity Blue Cross to call for closer scrutiny of horse sales across the board. In the first instance the charity has issued initial recommendations on how the equine industry can take steps to help reduce potential welfare risks involved with sales.

Currently there are no laws around the selling of animals online. With the UK in the midst of an equine welfare crisis involving too many horses and not enough knowledgeable homes, the ease of online buying and selling is causing some horses to fall into inappropriate hands and an uncertain future.

Horse charities are left to pick up the pieces, putting their limited resources under serious strain.

To obtain a clearer view of the numbers and types of horses currently seeking homes via online platforms, Blue Cross recruited a team of volunteers

BLUE CROSS: ‘ONLINE SALES OF HORSES NEED CLOSER SCRUTINY’ to track six equine classified websites and Facebook, over a period of 12 weeks during August to November of 2017.

A total of 3,340 unique selling adverts were tracked over this time and the contents analysed.

“On 22nd August alone there were 8,061 ads selling one or more horses on the six classified sites we tracked,”says Blue Cross education officer Kerry Taylor.

While 76% of all adverts described a riding horse or pony, 28% of all adverts used terminology that implied the horse was not straightforward, needed work, was young and inexperienced, or displayed behavioural problems.

“Although this might not cause a problem for an experienced, knowledgeable home,” says Kerry, “it could make it hard to assess the horse accurately in a short period of time when looking to buy. This could lead to buyers purchasing a horse that is unsuitable for them,

raising concerns about the future welfare of such animals and potential safety risks for the purchasers.”

Blue Cross also identified the promotion of breeding as a cause for concern in online advertisements. Although the number of horses listed with a potential use for breeding was small, at 1%, the quality of such adverts flagged health and welfare concerns.

One mare advertised as suitable as a companion or broodmare was described as permanently lame with a previously broken

pelvis rendering her unrideable. However, the advert went on to say that ‘it doesn’t impact on her ability to be bred from and she foaled fine this year with no assistance.’

“This is a grave welfare concern and an example of passive promotion of indiscriminate breeding,” says Kerry. “In no capacity is it acceptable to advertise a severely injured animal for breeding purposes.”

Blue Cross is currently campaigning for urgent change in legislation to protect the tens of thousands of small animals sold online each year. While the charity is aware that the breeding and sales of horses holds many differences to the sales of small animals such as dogs and cats, it believes that the horse sales situation in the UK needs a form of regulation. www.bluecross.org.uk

Pony saved from car thrives in new Suffolk home Tiny and terrified, Gary was just a helpless young foal when he was found crammed into the back of a car filled with a group of youths. Thankfully the Shetland pony was rescued before he could endure any more mistreatment and taken in to the care of the Blue Cross.

Gary was thin, in a terrible condition and was a mere shell of what a happy foal should be and he was petrified of people. Emily Lambert, Rehoming Coordinator, was one of those involved in Gary’s care.

She said: “Our horse team worked on getting him used to the many things any well-kept pony would

have experienced – from wearing a head collar, to visits from the vet and farrier. Once Gary was ready, we started the search to find him a home.”

Luckily Louise and Richard Coulson were in search for a friend for their miniature pony Zebby, and after more than three months in Blue Cross care, Gary was on his way to start his new life in Suffolk with them.

“It was a slow process to get him to trust us, but now Gary is unrecognisable from the traumatised foal he once was. It’s very rewarding to see him come out of that shell and become a confident, happy pony,” said Louise.

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CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE PART 2

Cavallo Lola Coat. RRP: £289. www.zebraproducts.co.uk

Forest and Bottle Green Check Herringbone Tweed Cape with Red lining.

RRP: £125. www.thehome furlong.co.uk

Dusky Pink Bobble Hat. RRP: £25. www.welligogs.com

Gold Burghley Bangle in 9ct Gold, Pavé set with fou fine Diamonds. RRP: £2,25 www.sylviakerr jewellery.com

Feather Print Shirt.

RRP: £59.95. www.gamebirds clothing.co.uk

r o f s t f i G H e r!

Feather Pins. RRP: £40. www.welligogs.com

Mayfair Chocolate Leather and Suede Waterproof Boots.

RRP: £350. www.welligogs.com

Ladies Crew Neck Fair Isle Lambswool Knitted Jumper.

RRP: £99. www.farlows.co.uk

Loxely Tote Bag in Tan Leather.

RRP: £365. www.fairfax andfavor.com

Snaffle Stud Earrings RRP: £30. www.pegasusjewellery.net

Bespoke Childéric Spring 40 Handbag.

RRP: £1,150. www.childericsaddles.co.uk

HyLand Short Mont Blanc Winter Boots.

RRP £59.99. www.hyequestrian.com

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Cashmere Shawl. RRP: £96. www.sepjordan.com

Demelza Hazelnut Wool Tweed Coat.

RRP: £295. www.welligogs.com

Gridwork fleece.

RRP: £55. www.ariat.com

r 6.

Cosmo Gold Long Lemon Quartz Necklace.

RRP: £145. www.emily mortimer.co.uk

Cornflower Blue and Lilac Check Herringbone Tweed Cape. RRP: from £125. www.thehome furlong.co.uk

Cheltenham Stud Earrings. RRP: £109. www.sylviakerr jewellery.com Equetech Check Infinity Scarf RRP: £9.95 www.equetech.com Butler Stewart Silk & Wool Scarves.

RRP: £89. www.butler stewart.co.uk

Odette Navy Waterproof Breathable Windproof Coat.

RRP: £249. www.welligogs.com

Laksen Montmartre Twoface Scarf. RRP: £135. www.shopforshooting.co.uk

Sterling Silver Beaded Knot Friendship Bracelet.

RRP: £25. www.hihosilver.co.uk

Tweed Hair Scrunchies RRP: £9.50 www.timothyfoxx.co.uk

Choose from a collection of bracelet and necklace designs made from the hair of your beloved horse.

RRP: from £53. www.Gemosi.com

Monogram Stripe Leather Diary 2019. RRP: £95. www.raefeather.com

Dakota Diamante Bobble Hat. RRP: £13.99. www.hy-equestrian.com

Windsor Wrap. RRP: £135. www.legerandoaks.co.uk

Lowell zip 2.0. RRP: £45/£50. www.ariat.com Sequin Hoodie. RRP: £30. www.superxcountry.co.uk

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CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE PART 2 Crescent Moon and Star Necklace. RRP: from £115. www.rennejewellery.co.uk

HyFASHION Supersoft Tartan Scarf.

RRP: £16.99.

Melrose Cable Knit Bobble Hat. RRP: £17.99. www.hyequestrian.com St. Moritz Cape.

RRP: £295. www.leger andoaks.co.uk

Button patch mini clutch bag. RRP: £28. www.maudeandfox.com

Zipped Sweatshirt with hood.

RRP: £67.95. www.equi theme.co.uk

The Bomber.

RRP: £275. www.annabel brocks.com

Flat Cap. RRP: £49. www.timothy foxx.co.uk

Love My Horse key ring.

RRP: £5.25. www.equetech.com

Snaffle Equestrian Necklace.

RRP: £55. www.pegasus jewellery.net

Royal Salute 21 Year Old Beach Polo Edition Whisky. RRP: Approx £108. www.royalsalute.com

Clifton Cinch belt.

RRP: £29.99. www.mackenzie andgeorge.com

Midnight Cow Hide Clutch Bag in Silver. RRP: £45. www.hicksandbrown.com

The Amira Boot in Black. RRP: £415. www.fairfax andfavor.com

Paragon Equestrian Padded Jacket. RRP: £60. www.paragon equestrian.co.uk

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Waterproof Performance Coat. RRP: £149.99. www.marktodd collection.co.uk

Snaffle Bit Bracelet, Ring and Necklace. RRP: from £18.50. www.equetech.com

Running fox necklace.

RRP: from £35. www.equestrian jewellers.co.uk

Sterling Silver Double Knot Cuff Bracelet.

RRP: £90. www.hihosilver.co.uk

Skyline Breeches.

RRP: £100. www.aztecdiamond equestrian.com

Tweed and Fur Cape with Detachable Fur Collar.

RRP: £599. www.hollandcooper.com

Wool Pom Beanie.

RRP: £30. www.aztecdiamond equestrian.com

Cavallo Lanka Fleece Jacket RRP: £125. www.zebra products.co.uk

AWOL sweatshirts.

RRP: £65. www.annabelbrocks.com Equetech Bridles Collection RRP: from £6.50. www.equetech.com

Monogram Leopard Canvas Clutch. RRP: £185. www.raefeather.com Spencer Boots.

RRP: £280. www.ariat.com

The Vitesse in Gold or silver.

RRP: £127. www.sevenfeetapart.com Sistina Flat Over-the-Knee Riding Boot.RRP: £350. www.keithscarrott.co.uk

Galicia Suede bag.

RRP: £200. www.toggi.com

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CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE PART 2

MEET THE AUTHOR Daniel Skinner

F

ollow one man’s journey into misery, mild alcohol dependence and, ultimately, probable financial ruin as he hilariously explains everything you need to know about the world of horses and horse sports.

‘From Nags to Numbnuts: A Skint Dressage Daddy’s Guide to Horses, Horse People & Horse Sports’ is the first from Daniel Skinner who writes a blog under the name ‘Skint Dressage Daddy’, where he describes his life as a downtrodden husband and father in a house dominated by his daughter’s obsession with horses and dressage.

Described as ‘The funniest thing on the internet’ and ‘So funny you’ll laugh till you cry’, the blog regularly attracts over 250,000 readers from around the world. Daniel also writes a monthly column in the national GB Rider magazine.

Daniel has spent most of his career working in newspaper publishing as a digital designer. He led the design team for website and mobile app launches for the Financial Times, Daily Mail, Evening Standard and Metro amongst many others. He also works as a photographer.

Originally from Sussex, he lived in London for 20years before moving to Suffolk with his partner, two children, two dogs, two cats and several rescued chickens. He likes red wine, beer, cars, motorbikes and planes. But not horses.

The book is available from Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats, for £6.99 and £4.99 respectively. www.skintdressagedaddy.com

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Uvex Suxxeed Glamour Riding Helmet. RRP £399.95. www.zebraproducts.co.uk

Padded Yard Jacket.

RRP: £55. www.aptcavalier.com

r o f s t f i G ! s r e d i R Competition Breeches.RRP: £55. www.super xcountry.co.uk

Personalised Faux Fur Pom Hat Silks and Velvets. RRP: £30. www.foxyequestrian.com

Veredus Cap. RRP: £14. www.zebraproducts.co.uk

RRP: from £103.

Equitector boots for everything you ever will do with your horse. Hard wearing waterproof leather riding and yard boots with Climate Control Technology that are warm in winter but cool in summer. Toe protection just in case of the unforeseen. Made in the UK. For Christmas presents exchange period extended to 6th January 2019. www.equitector.com

MEET THE AUTHOR

Equihandee harness.

RRP: £49.99. www.equihandee.co.uk

Dr Simon Curtis

D

Cavallo Flint II Tweed Jacket.

RRP: £299. www.zebraproducts.co.uk

Performance Skin.

RRP: £47.50. www.aptcavalier.com Hi-Vis LED Gilet. RRP £65. www.opalequestrian.com

r Curtis has spent ten years researching the equine hoof to produce a book written for farriers, horse owners, veterinary professionals, and all who may be interested in the horse and how its hoof works.

Simon’s new book ‘The Hoof of the Horse’ will take you on a journey tracing the development of the equine hoof, from its beginning in the mare’s uterus all the way to maturity and old age. It is written in three sections which explore the physical nature of the hoof; the five ages of the hoof; and affects upon the hoof.

The book includes 250 beautiful colour illustrations to illuminate the text, showing the hoof as it has never been seen before.

Working as a Newmarket farrier for over 45 years, Simon gained a PhD for his research on horse’s hooves and shares many of his thesis findings in ‘The Hoof of the Horse’. Simon says, “There has not been enough simple science applied to help us get the best from our horses’ hooves. My book addresses this problem, looking to improve knowledge and, ultimately, hoof care.”

In addition to writing four in-depth books and being published in numerous journals, Simon has also lectured and demonstrated farriery in more than 20 countries on 6 continents. He is a visiting lecturer at the University of Cambridge and is the only farrier to have been awarded an Honorary Associate by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

The Hoof of the Horse is available to pre-order. www.curtis farrierbooks.com

The Equi-legging in Mulberry. RRP: £69. www.hollandcooper.com

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CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE PART 2 This beautiful wooden Junior Starry Night Nativity play set includes 10 handcrafted characters with a starry night and stable backdrop. Suitable for children aged 12 months upwards. All proceeds from sales will go towards supporting the 1,500 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules in the care of Redwings Horse Sanctuary nationwide. www.redwings.org.uk/shop

RRP: £18.

Unicorn Custom Tee. RRP: £12.50. www.equetech.com

r o f s t f i G Kids!

Stella Shirt.

RRP: £18.50. www.covalliero.com

A cuddly soft toy version of Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s very own ‘Black Beauty’ Maya, available at a special festive price.

Monogram Baby Suitable for children aged 36 Slippers. RRP: £85. www.raefeather.com months upwards. All proceeds from sales will go towards supporting the 1,500 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules in the care of Redwings Horse Sanctuary nationwide.

Special price: £7.50 (was £10.00) www.redwings.org.uk/shop

Muddies Icicle Boot.

RRP: £34.95. www.grubsboot.com

The Really Nasty Horse Racing Game – Families can enjoy a ‘day at the races’ when playing this devious family board game. RRP: £22. www.debenhams.co.uk

On-line memorabilia auction...

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Pom Pom Knitted Bobble Hat. RRP: £12.90. www.equitheme.co.uk

The Racehorse Sanctuary & Rehoming Centre will hold a special on-line memorabilia auction in support of their ex-racehorses. The auction, which has a strong sporting theme, will culminate just before Christmas.

Over 12 auction lots have been generously donated by sporting legends and celebrities which will be under the hammer to raise funds for the charity’s work in providing a lifeline for racehorses once their racing days are over.

All proceeds from the auction will be donated to The Racehorse Sanctuary & Rehoming Centre. www.givergy.uk/racehorseauction

Catch up with...

GABy LUCAS That time of year already?

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MoNTHLy CoMPETITIoN...

FIVE WINNERS TO WIN AN EQUITHÈME BRANDED SADDLE PAD EACH! Available in full/dressage, Dark Grey, Black and Navy*.

Equithème Bracelet Saddle Pad RRP: £54.90. www.equitheme.co.uk

*Subject to stock availability

Say goodbye to...

Happy Christmas to the Absolute Horse readers! I can’t believe how quickly it has come round, and where has this year gone?

Towards the end of 2018 I always love to look back at the year and there have been some amazing memories with friends, family, clients and my sponsors.

Zante has been a big part of my life and I cannot wait to see him out competing with Sophie Williams, based in Wales. The duo are so talented and I will be following their dressage career as they progress, I couldn’t have wished for a better home, watch that space!

Teaching has been the main objective throughout october/ November and December looks like it’s going to be the same, which is great! I can’t believe how far some of my clients have come, they are all doing so well competing and as a coach/trainer I couldn’t be more proud.

Lots of demos coming up with Paul Cornish in Essex and Suffolk which will keep me busy, but they are great fun. Hopefully I will have time to fit my Christmas shopping in.

And I have some other news not related to anything horsey but I am so happy and excited I have to share with you… I got engaged to my wonderful boyfriend Jonathan Turner, 2019 is going to be a busy year!

After all that excitement I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New year.

See you in 2019! X

To enter: Visit www.absolutehorsemagazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st December 2018 and close 31st January 2019.

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CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE PART 2

MEET THE MAKER Sharon Bird

RRP: £6.

S

haron Bird established her country clothing company, The Home Furlong, back in 2017.

Sharon was encouraged, after initially designing her stunning capes for friends and family, to develop her brand, such was the demand for her exquisitely-made designs.

Working from her Wiltshirebased studio, close to Lamborn, Sharon is passionate about only sourcing and using British fabrics, bringing style, elegance and versatility to her capes – which are currently available in three fabulous collections: Autumnal Walks, Berry Brights and Shades of Blue.

Each cape comes complete with a colourful and luxurious silky lining, giving her work an exciting and contemporary feel, with antiqued brass buttons adding an extra special touch. The use of colour is very important to Sharon, as is her dedication to her extraordinary level of

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workmanship.

“I want to design and make clothes that I would be proud to wear myself,” says Sharon.

This has quickly become her creative mantra, with retail interest in her designs growing daily.

A bespoke design service is also available, with Sharon working with clients to create a cape that is unique for them.

Perfect for a day at the races, a country pub lunch or shopping with girlfriends and with the cooler weather upon us, the capes make an ideal change to struggling with a thick coat or jacket and look fabulous teamed with jeans, trousers or a skirt. www.thehomefurlong.co.uk Tweed Brooches.

RRP: £7.

Tweed Key Rings. RRP: £7.

Waggy Tails Horse Mug A colourful ceramic mug featuring a design that is sure to raise a smile! This lovely gift comes in a co-ordinating presentation box, and is microwave and dishwasher proof. All proceeds from sales will go towards supporting the 1,500 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules in the care of Redwings Horse Sanctuary nationwide. www.redwings.org.uk/shop

r o f s t f i G ! e m o The H Stag Engraved Serving Paddle. RRP: £48. www.ladida-andover.com

Paint Tin Triple Wick Scented Candles. RRP: £18. www.ladida-andover.com

Horse Games by Bob Thompson. RRP: £20. www.merlinunwin.co.uk

Christmas Stocking Holder.

RRP: £35. www.horseshoehearts.co.uk Lots of fun, generic prints available on a range of items, including cushions, prints, mugs, and cards. RRP: from £5. www.teresalewisart.co.uk

Monogram Striped Candle. RRP: £35. www.raefeather.com

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE PART 2

r o f s t f i G ! g o D e h T

Bucas Celtic Stable Extra rug.

RRP: £130. www.zebra products.co.uk

Bucas Atlantic 200. RRP: £72. www.zebra products.co.uk

Bob Dog Loop. RRP: £26. www.backontrack.com/uk

r o f s t f i G ! d r a Y d H o rs e an

The Lounging Hound Travel Roll. RRP: from £60. www.thelounging hound.com

Golly Galoshes. RRP: from £26.99 per pair Miniature Pony through to £35.99 for horse sizing. www.gollygaloshes.com

Bucas Freedom Dog Rug. RRP: £26 to £32. www.zebraproducts.co.uk

Ruff and Tumble Christmas Coat.

RRP: From £39. www.ruffand tumbledogcoats.com

Gold Edition Tendon Boot RRP: £179.

Gold Edition Fetlock Boot RRP: £153. www.zebraproducts.co.uk

Ruff and Tumble Dog Drying Coat in Bottle Green. RRP: £26. www.ruffand tumbledogcoats.com Back on Track Mesh Rug. RRP £194. www.backontrack.com/uk

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RHEA ASKS...

I’M RHEA FREEMAN...I’M A PR, MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONSULTANT AND COACH WITH A SPECIALISM IN EQUESTRIAN AND RURAL BUSINESS. I WORK WITH A NUMBER OF THE BEST BRANDS IN THE INDUSTRY AND MANY THAT YOU’LL SEE IN THESE PAGES...

Saddle Mate. RRP: £25.99. www.abbeyengland.com

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RRP: from £36. www.zebra products.co.uk FiltaBac, FiltaClear and Active Manuka Honey Vet (AMHVet) provide antibacterial wound protection and total sunblocking. www.aniwell-uk.com

Renwick & Sons Quarter Mark Brush.

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Haygain’s innovative hay steaming range. RRP: from £695. www.haygain.co.uk

Veredus Biocare Blue Snow Shampoo. RRP: £19. www.zebraproducts.co.uk

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eople get very, VERY excited about New Year’s Resolutions – you know – the kind that last a few days (maybe even a few hours!) and then you feel a bit flat about the whole of the year.

So I’m going to share some thoughts about little tweaks you can make to your life that can help improve your business in a big way.

• Learning. The good thing is that with everything we have available now, you can up skill, really easily, for free. Get into podcasts in areas you have an interest in and plug your earphones in when you’re walking the dog, mucking out…in the car too.

• Give yourself a pat on the back. Things don’t always go as we want, but being mean to yourself won’t help! If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself. And when you do something well celebrate by saying to yourself ‘yep, nailed it!’

• Hydrate. When I drink more water, EVERyTHING improves. When I rush around like a crazy woman and drink the same amount of water as a tiny hamster, I don’t feel as good. Hydration has been linked to improved concentration and more.

• Write stuff down. This hack can help you achieve your goals. yep – the good old pen and paper. There have been studies that show that simply writing down a goal makes it more likely you’ll achieve it.

• Self care. Self care doesn’t have to be woo-woo, it can be just giving yourself some time to relax. Maybe take a bath, read a book, go for a walk, meet a friend.

Building this into your weekly routine can help improve your mindset.

• Join a group. Joining a group, like a Facebook group full of likeminded people, can really help. My Small & Supercharged group is a great example. If you’re a business, blogger or vlogger, you’d be very welcome.

Visit www.rheafreemanpr.co.uk • Twitter (@rheafreeman) • Instagram (@rheafreemanpr) • Facebook (/RheaFreemanPR)

NUTRITIoN he receives. However, it is well documented that the digestive system of the horse is designed for an almost constant trickle of fibre, and although this is often forgotten, perhaps our first area of consideration should be what and how much we are putting into his net!

FEEDING FOR:

Winter Condition eeding our horses to keep them in the best possible condition can cause a headache for many of us, especially over the colder months if we have a picky horse or one with a poor appetite.

Dependant on age, breed and work load, horses will naturally tend to carry different proportions of fat and muscle and it is important we ensure our horse’s diet provides the appropriate calories (or energy) to maintain a healthy weight, whilst, alongside correct work, giving them the building blocks for muscle development.

Condition scoring is a useful tool for assessing whether your horse is under, over or at about the correct weight. A 1-9 scale is often used, with a score of 1 meaning the horse is very poor,

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and 9 being very overweight.

When condition scoring, it is important not just to look at your horse’s waistline, but also his neck and hind-quarters.

If your horse is dropping condition over the colder months, before his diet is considered there are a few factors which every responsible horse owner should first check.

The most obvious of these are ensuring your worming program is up to date, checking the horse isn’t in physical discomfort such as dental or back pain, and making sure he isn’t spending large portions of his time cold or wet. Having established none of these are an issue, many owners may simply choose to increase the amount of the horse’s current bucket feed, therefore increasing the volume of (potentially) cereal-based feed

High Quality Fibre With very few exceptions, almost every horse will be healthiest and happiest when he has ad lib access to a fibre source of some sort (ad lib = fibre is always available). During cold weather, access to fibre has a double advantage; not only does it keep the digestive system functioning correctly, but additionally, the digestion of fibre in the hind gut creates heat as a by-product, quite literally warming your horse up from the inside out!

Equally, horses often have to spend increased periods of time stabled during the colder months and the presence of fibre can decrease the likelihood of stereotypical behaviour. This is often caused by stress and/or boredom which in itself can be a cause of weight loss.

So, having established that fibre has an essential role to play in the diet of horses that need help with condition, it makes sense to provide them with the best quality we possibly can. Firstly, forage that is soft, has an appealing smell, and is dust-free is more likely to tempt a fussy feeder to eat.

Soft forage with fine stems often indicates that the grass has been cut whilst it is younger

compared to a coarse-looking forage and will therefore provide your horse with more calories per mouthful.

Having considered what you are Top Tips: • Never underestimate the importance of forage always allow ad lib access to the best quality forage you can afford. Ideally it should also be dust-free.

• Don’t forget the fibre element of your bucket feed.

Use high calorie fibre sources or a ‘complete’ feed to enable you to keep cereals (and therefore starch levels) to a minimum.

• Never try to rush weight gain. Slow and steady is by far the safest for your horse.

Assessing your horse’s weight weekly using a weigh tape will allow you to notice any unusual changes.

• Try to keep an underweight horse as warm as possible; he will lose a significant amount of calories trying to generate heat.

• Look for ‘complete’ feeds that contain digestive enhancers such as yeast and prebiotics.

• Don’t confuse fat with muscle. You will not achieve a well-developed top line through feed alone, correct work is also essential.

going to supply in your net, you should also assess what is going into your horse’s bucket. We know that ideally the bulk of the diet should consist of fibre, of which there are a number of options such as high temperature dried grass or alfalfa which are widely available and can provide a valuable contribution to the energy (calorie) intake. These are especially useful if the horse can be excitable or stressy, meaning you want to avoid cereal-based feeds wherever possible. Fibrebased ‘complete’ feeds are particularly valuable in these situations as these also contain a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals, which, when fed at the correct weight, will supply all your horse’s requirements without the need for further supplementation. If you would rather have more flexibility in your feeding, choose a chaff with calorie levels provided through oil and with very low sugar and starch levels to minimise the chance of excitable behaviour. A product such as this allows you to feed as much or little as you feel happy with, (although we wouldn’t recommend feeding above 3kg/day) as there are no vitamins or minerals added. Do remember to add a broad spectrum vitamin or mineral source such as a good quality balancer. Oil is the most calorific ingredient we can include in our horses’ diets, and as it doesn’t tend to cause excitable behaviour, is very useful for adding condition for poor doers. www.horsehage.co.uk

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t is fairly inevitable that during your time of owning a horse, that sickness or injury will strike at some point. It is usually the case that a period of rest will be necessary, which will often mean the need for sudden changes in normal management and feeding routines.

Whilst primarily veterinary treatment and care will be the first line of defence, nutrition has a role to play in aiding the recovery process to avoid any digestive upsets as the transitions form a ‘working’ to a ‘rest and recovery’ diet begins.

Forage A horse that has been grazing grass, which has a high moisture content, will have to contend to a change to predominantly hay or haylage which will have a higher dry matter intake which could potentially lead to impaction colic. Ensuring adequate water intake via soaked hay, soaked sugar beet or Super Fibre Cubes will help to increase water consumption.

Ensuring the horse is able to trickle feed via ad-lib forage will help to neutralise the stomach acid by continual saliva production, reducing the risk of ulcers and stereotypical behaviours developing. If ad-lib is not possible due to weight issues, then it is important that horses receive 1.5% of their bodyweight as forage. Thinking outside the box to ensure the forage will last as long as possible via double netted hay nets or placing several haynets in the middle of the stable can help to boost the horse’s metabolism whilst increasing their natural browsing behaviour. Hay can also be replaced with a low-calorie chaff or Super Fibre Cubes which can be placed in a nut ball to extended eating times. Research has shown that horses’ appetites are increased when a variety of forage sources are offered in a ‘cafeteria’ style.

Concentrate meals: During times of convalescence, dietary changes need to be made more quickly than the recommended 7-10 days which provides a major challenge for the gut microflora. Digestive aids such as a probiotic or yeast can be helpful, especially if your horse is receiving medication.

Providing a balanced diet via a compound feed or a balancer that is fed at the recommended

MAINTAINING THE CONVALESCENCE

HORSE

By Lizzie Drury MSC RNUTR REGISTERED NUTRITIONIST amount will ensure your horse is receiving the vital vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and quality proteins in the diet. Maintaining a manageable temperament can be achieved by selecting feeds that are high in digestible “Super-Fibres” such as Soya Hulls, Alfalfa or Sugar Beet such as Super Fibre Cubes or Re-Leve. Feeds that rely on cereals to provide energy (calories) could lead to excitable behaviours and therefore using alternative energy dense sources such as EquiJewel or Luminance will be beneficial.

Extras Horse that are sick and injured can quickly become depressed by the isolation from field mates, regular grooming sessions will help to alleviate the stress of being alone in the stable whilst helping to stimulate the circulation and maintain good coat condition. An eye and nose wash will also go a long way in helping to make your horse feel more comfortable and refreshed.

Suddenly having a sick or injured horse on your hands can be a worrying time, so never hesitate to pick up the phone to ask for help and advice about the best or tried and tested ways of making sure that things go as smoothly as possible. www.saracenhorsefeeds.com

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NUTRITIoN

FEEDING THE GOOD-DOER FOR RECOVERY

By Baileys Horse Feeds

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orrect nutrition plays an important role in supporting healing, and a subsequent return to work or competition, but what do you do when your horse is liable to weight gain, when out of action?

Vital Fibre Even quite minor injuries can mean a horse is confined to his stable for a couple of days so it’s important that he has access to plenty of fibre to promote normal gut function and help relieve boredom. For the good-doer or horse on prolonged box rest who’s gained some unwanted condition, this has to be achieved while also controlling calorie intake.

Hay can be soaked for up to 12 hours, to ‘wash out’ water soluble carbohydrates (wcs/sugars) and, therefore, calories and can be give in small-holed nets, or other slow feeders, to make the ration last longer. It’s also wise to weigh out the forage ration to be sure the horse is not getting more than he needs ie. 1.5 – 2% of bodyweight, which is 7.5 10kg/16.5 - 22lb for a 500kg horse, and then divide this up into as many small portions per day (24 hours), as possible.

Soaking forage also washes out essential nutrients, like vitamins, minerals and protein, and, with no access to pasture, the horse’s overall nutrient intake can drop significantly. A low calorie balancer is ideal in these circumstances as it provides all the nutrients the horse requires, for maintenance and all-important repair, but without unwanted calories that could go to the waistline.

If boredom becomes a problem during prolonged box rest, it can be worth introducing both stable toys and alternative forage sources, like chaffs and beet pulp, to keep the horse’s mind active and

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satisfy his need to chew. Be careful to choose low calorie ‘lite’ chaff options and unmolassed beet pulp, which is useful for providing fibre to chew on while supplying surprisingly few calories, when fed in considered volumes. Don’t forget to include any forage alternatives fed, when calculating the total dietary fibre to feed ie your 1.5 - 2% should include chaffs and beet pulp, in order to control overall calories.

Feeding to Heal Correct nutrition can actually aid healing by providing the nutrients required for tissue development; amino acids, for example, are the building blocks of protein and are components of all body cells. Some ‘essential’ amino acids must be supplied by the horse’s diet, as his body cannot manufacture them, and these are particularly important for soft tissue repair eg. muscle and tendon. With the exception of alfalfa, forages tend not to contain sufficient quality protein to supply essential amino acids, so this emphasises the importance of feeding a balancer to ensure the horse doesn’t go short.

Vitamins are essential for body functions and minerals are also integral in cell and tissue structure and vital for the healing process. An alternative easy option for the healing horse at grass, or even the box or barn resting horse, is to supply these as a molassed broad spectrum lick to allow free choice access. Cutting down the feed for a convalescing horse need not mean cutting down on nutrients; reducing calorie intake in response to reduced workload, and for waistline control, is essential but the maintenance of other nutrients is equally important in order to support successful healing. www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

Product News...

TurmerAid as a treat? As well as the easy to use benefits of feeding turmeric, linseed, pepper, apple cider vinegar and yucca – did you know you can feed TurmerAid straight from your hand? Feeding TurmerAid as a treat is so easy and a super healthy reward when used in clicker training! TurmerAid can also be used in a treat ball and can be put in a hayball with the hay – keeping them entertained for hours. www.goldenpaste company.co.uk

Christmas Pudding treats are made with a selection of tasty herbs flavoured with winter spice to give them that festive feeling. The molasses free treats are ideal to feed as a reward for training, when catching in and turning out, or just because it’s Christmas. Mint, apple or herbal flavours are also available. RRP: £6.99. www.globalherbs.co.uk

THE BENEFITS OF Feeding Treats

LISA ELLIOTT, MSC – CASTLE HORSE FEEDS NUTRITIONIST, EXPLAINS MORE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF TREATS.

human – horse relationship, and encourage your horse through 3 who doesn’t want a better bond different motions - rounding (flexion), hollowing (extension) with their horse? and side to side (lateral) Stable Enrichment bending. During each exercise, Treats can benefit your horse your horse can gradually stretch when stabled through stable the postural muscles and take enrichment. Research has shown each vertebra in the back and horses respond well to foraging neck through a complete range Positive Reinforcement devices, such as ‘snack balls’, of motion to reach the treat. which encourage natural Treats can be used as part of These stretches can result in positive reinforcement to teach foraging behaviour through enhanced flexibility, core placing treats inside with the new skills in a way that horses strength, and balance. Research horse then having to ‘forage’ to love – for example, touching a has demonstrated that regular get them. target at different heights, dynamic stretching increases the Encouraging this natural which can help teach them to size of deep core muscles in the foraging with treats can reduce lower their head when needed. back. These muscles are integral Positive reinforcement can help stress, resulting in a calmer, to back strength and stability, so your horse accept being touched happier horse and improved treats can help your in certain areas and can be used wellbeing. horse to carry himself when schooling. Horses are Dynamic Stretching (and you) better. intelligent animals who are You may have heard of ‘carrot willing to learn so there is no stretches’ - these dynamic limit to what you can teach with stretches use natural treats! movement to improve back Research has shown positive motion, core strength and reinforcement helps horses learn flexibility. They may be called quicker. Using treats in this way ‘carrot’ stretches, but they can can create a cooperative, willing be performed with any treat! horse whilst strengthening the Using a treat, you can

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iving your equine friend a treat from time to time is a lovely way to enrich your relationship.

However, treats are much more than just a titbit, they are a beneficial addition to your horse’s life.

Castle Treats If this has inspired you, it’s worth knowing that Castle have created a low sugar treat containing zero molasses and zero whole grains.

Castle Treats contain mixed herbs and peppermint for a taste your horse will love. High in fibre, they keep your horses gut microbes happy and healthy too.

Castle treats are produced in easy to feed pieces and provide a convenient, healthy treat, however you use them.

Castle Treats cost just £3.99 for a 2kg bag. www.castlehorsefeeds.com

Dynamic Stretching

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NUTRITIoN

CASE STUDY: Halona

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ver since Halona was a foal she was itchy,” explains owner Florence Needham “My vet thought possible lice or worms but we treated and nothing helped. “over the years it progressed that she was scratching during the summer and fine over winter. For all the lotions and potions nothing really helped the core issue and though they helped the healing and hair growth, or managed to take the intense itch away, it never stopped her from scratching.

“I had heard about the good properties and good things about Turmeric, and I had been feeding it in its straight form to my old Arab gelding who was very poorly with Melanomas as I was told it was good for helping with them - and it did help although it was too late for him sadly.

“Spring 2018 I came across the TurmerAid product which I decided to give to my older mare for her stiffness, and what a difference! I also decided to give TurmerAid to Halona, mostly for the Apple cider vinegar as I was feeding this as an extra so stopped buying it separately and fed them all this complete supplement.

“After a couple of weeks I realised that Halona hadn’t scratched nearly half as much as she normally would by the summer. Her mane has remained untouched, it’s thicker and longer. She just did not have the same intense

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Halona before

desire to scratch at any given opportunity, and I can only put that down to TurmerAid. “It is something I have continued to give to Halona, as well as my two older Arabs and I have noticed a difference in them both in terms of flexibility also.” www.goldenpastecompany.co.uk Halona after

WIN! WIN! SIX READERS To EACH WIN A BAG oF ToPSPEC

CoMPREHENSIVE FEED BALANCER!

In our latest competition six lucky winners will each win a bag of TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer. It is a very palatable ‘Non-Heating’ pelleted feed that is formulated without cereal grains and is low in sugar and starch.

TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer contains many supplements combined with good quality protein to promote muscle development and topline.

The supplements include a top-specification broad-spectrum supplement and specialised supplements including a superb hoof supplement, generous levels of anti-oxidants and sophisticated digestive aids.

This superb specification allows horses to utilise far more nutrients from the forage and straights in their diet, which usually means that their hard feed intake can be reduced with many resulting benefits.

Comprehensive Feed Balancer is a very flexible, nutrient-rich feed designed to balance the rations of most horses and ponies simply by adjusting the rate at which it is fed and the products it is fed with.

When Comprehensive Feed Balancer is fed there is therefore often no need to add any further supplements, other than salt and/or electrolytes for sweating horses. www.topspec.com To enter: Visit www.absolutehorsemagazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st December 2018 and close 31st January 2019.

NUTRITIoN

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN FEEDING THE

GOOD-DOER

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In Winter

ood-doers generally do very well from a pure forage diet which can be both a blessing and a curse!

However, winter can be a great time to encourage seasonal weight loss for overweight good-doers.

avoid unwanted weight gain.

Forage Fibre intake should never be excessively restricted as fibre is essential in order to maintain a healthy digestive system. Where restriction is necessary, no less than 1.5%, as fed, of Grazing bodyweight should be fed. In Generally, grazing in winter for this instance, double netting most can at best be limited. The hay or using a ‘trickle’ net can reduced quantity and quality of also help to slow consumption. grazing is useful to achieve A high-fibre, late-cut meadow weight loss where it is needed, hay is the most suitable forage though reduction in fresh forage to use for good-doers. must be balanced with adequate Unfortunately for good-doers provision of low-calorie this winter, the majority of hay conserved forage, in order to cut this year is good quality. maintain optimum hindgut Hay can be soaked in ample, health. cool, fresh water for 8-12 hours Conversely, if weather remains to reduce the sugar and calorie mild and some good grazing content. remains, it may be necessary to In certain circumstances, the use implement grazing restriction to of an exceptionally low-calorie

oat-straw chop can be used as a partial hay replacer. This can prevent horses and ponies on a restricted regime from standing for periods of longer than 6 hours with no access to forage.

Vitamins and Minerals It is vital that horses and ponies receive their full requirement of vitamins and minerals. Feeding a top specification, nonconditioning feed balancer or

pelleted multi-supplement will achieve this. A powdered multisupplement will need to be mixed with at least half a Stubbs scoop of chop.

Feeding Veterans that lack condition...

Equerry Veteran Mix is specially designed for elderly horses that need to gain weight and condition.

Maintaining condition and nutrient absorption are two of the difficulties faced by most veterans, especially during the winter months, so making the right choice of feed is vital. Formulated with high levels of protein to promote muscle tone and topline, Equerry Veteran Mix also contains oil and linseed to improve condition and ensure a shiny coat.

Made from highly digestible cereals to improve digestive efficiency and including yeast for a healthy digestive system, as well as raised levels of Vitamin E, an important antioxidant. Added vitamins and minerals including magnesium makeEquerry Veteran Mix the ideal feed for your faithful equine friend this winter. Equerry Veteran Mix - 20kg size - £13.25. www.equerryhorsefeeds.com

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A top-specification ‘lite’ feed balancer is appropriate to provide a full specification of micronutrients where laminitis is not a concern.

For those susceptible to, being treated for, or recovering from laminitis, a top-specification pelleted multi-supplement will provide a higher level of micronutrient support.

For elderly horses, or those requiring an additional joint supplement (10g glucosamine/500kg horse/day) a top-specification ‘lite’ feed balancer designed for senior horses and ponies is a costeffective solution.

Exercise and Management Regular exercise should be used to help control weight. In addition, avoiding over-rugging, as a warmer horse will burn less calories throughout the winter months.

Article supplied by nutritionists from the TopSpec Multiple Award-Winning-Helpline. They can be contacted, free of charge, on 01845 565030.

WIN! WIN! EIGHT READERS To EACH WIN THREE BAGS oF

Product News...

Haemoboost is a liquid supplement containing Vitamin B6, B12, Folic Acid and Iron. Ideal for picky eaters, older and underweight horses. RRP: £19.

NoWheeze contains Devil Claw, Eucalyptus, Liquorice and Peppermint to help soothe the respiratory system.

RRP: £23.

Tranquil E is a liquid valerian supplement to help calm horses that are too ‘highspirited’ or find themselves anxious about a change in routine, like confined box rest. RRP: £17. www.animalhealth.co.uk

Spillers is donating 30p for every bag of promotional stock sold, to Redwings!

Spillers, known for its expertise in senior horse nutrition, is ensuring the nation’s much-loved seniors are completely cared for with the launch of two exciting new senior feeds: Spillers Senior Complete Care Mix and Spillers Senior Super-Mash. They have also introduced a ‘Senior Friendly’ logo to clearly signpost other senior suitable Spillers products. For added piece of mind all have been veterinary approved. www.spillers-feeds.com

MoLLICHAFF CoNDITIoN CoMPLETE!

Mollichaff Condition Complete is a complete feed which is suitable for encouraging weight gain in all horses and ponies, especially those that struggle to maintain their condition.

It is a highly digestible, high fibre, high oil and low starch mix containing a balanced blend of alfalfa, dried grass, oat straw, fibre pellets, barley, soya flakes, soya oil and mint as well as yea-sacc and a prebiotic, plus vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

Soya oil provides essential fatty acids to help improve skin condition and encourage ahealthy, glossy coat; and yea-sacc® and a prebiotic are also included in Mollichaff Condition Complete to help maintain a healthy digestive system, along with mint for extra palatability.

Mollichaff Condition Complete can be used as the sole bucket feed when fed at the recommended levels, alongside good quality forage, as it contains a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement. www.horse hage.co.uk To enter: Visit www.absolutehorsemagazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st December 2018 and close 31st January 2019.

NUTRITIoN

CASE STUDY: Fritz wenty-nine-year-old, 16hh gelding, Fritz, who has been owned by Gwen Findlay for 24 years, has been a faithful companion – a real golden oldie.

Over the years Gwen and Fritz have enjoyed a variety of disciplines and in later years have had success at veteran showing, with Fritz qualifying for the Scottish Supreme Veteran Final at the Ingliston Grand Slam showing event in 2014, having been placed Reserve Champion at a local qualifying show. He has kept his good health despite his age and is still ridden four times a week and just this year he won the In-Hand Veteran class at Gwen’s local show.

However last winter Gwen noticed he was struggling to chew long stem forage and was sometimes quidding (balling up the forage in his mouth and spitting it out). Fritz had his teeth checked regularly by the vet and there was not a problem apart from the age and wear of his teeth, so Gwen decided to put him on to a chopped fibre source to supplement his forage and grazing.

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She opted for Mollichaff Veteran - a high fibre forage mix that has been specially formulated for older horses and ponies but it is also a great product for those that are unable to consume long forage and require a partial hay replacer.

Many equines, particularly as they get older, have loose or missing teeth and cannot chew long stemmed forage such as hay or haylage.

Mollichaff Veteran is made from chopped ingredients so it is easy to manage and is very palatable too, making it great for fussy feeders.

It is made from a balanced blend of dried grass, dried alfalfa and high quality oat straw and is topped with a unique dressing combining linseed and soya oil with a small amount of low sugar molasses and added vitamins and minerals, plant-based antioxidants, biotin, mint, nettle and salt. www.horsehage.co.uk

“He’s retained a lovely shine which I put down to the linseed and soya oil in Mollichaff Veteran” - Gwen Findlay 28

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lthough Mollichaff Donkey has been formulated as a complete fibre feed for donkeys, it is also a fantastic low energy choice for horses and ponies too, as young rider, Thalia Nuttall, can testify to.

Twelve-year-old Thalia from Lincolnshire grew up surrounded by donkeys as her father is award-winning beach donkey owner, John Nuttall. She started riding the donkeys at a very young age and moved onto ponies when she was just 5years-old. Her parents soon realised she was naturally talented and she quickly progressed to showjumping, having success with her starter ponies, Victor and Cruise, including winning the Under-10 Style & Performance at the Pony of the year Show 2016 on Another Victory.

In August 2015, her father purchased a coloured pony called Ozzie – a little skewbald mare standing at 126cm – from Ireland. At 8-years-old, Ozzie hadn’t really done much and was quite buzzy so not a typical child’s ride. The Nuttalls decided to let Ozzie settle in for a month or so as Thalia was still only 9-years-old herself but the pair soon bonded and became friends, forming a close partnership.

Pony Success with Mollichaff Donkey!

Thalia worked hard with Ozzie and they were registered to jump affiliated with British Show Jumping in 2016, with Ozzie showing promise with her bold jump and character. over the following two years the partnership had amazing success, qualifying for the Great yorkshire Show in 2017 and partnering up with Chloe Smith for the Mini Majors class. This achievement was repeated in 2018 and Thalia competed in the Mini Majors again, this time with Nigel Coupe. They also qualified for the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead; the Graham Heath Equestrian Final at the Scope Festival; the Silver League Final

Soil and pasture vary greatly throughout the UK, If a horse grazes on a sandy pasture, small amounts of sand and dirt will inevitably be ingested which, over time, may build up in the gut.

The improved formula Sandout powder should be fed for one week each month to horses or ponies grazing on sandy pastures.

A veterinary surgeon may also recommend Sandout in other situations, and will advise accordingly. RRP: £29.99 1190g. www.equine-america.co.uk

at the British National Championships (finishing in seventh place). But the icing on the cake was winning the HoyS qualifier at the British Show Jumping Welsh Home Pony Show at the David Broome Event Centre in July 2018. It was Thalia’s dream to qualify for HoyS on a pony she had produced herself. Sadly she didn’t get the result she hoped for but it was a great experience and a marvellous achievement to produce her own pony to this standard.

Thalia’s other pony, Missy, also qualified for the Great yorkshire Show; Scope Graham Heath and the Silver League Final as well as the RIHS at Hickstead where they were placed tenth.

Both Thalia’s ponies are fed on Mollichaff Donkey as it provides a palatable fibre feed which is low in sugar and starch but high in fibre.

Mollichaff Donkey is made from a balanced blend of dried grass, fibre pellets, oat straw and soya oil with camomile, mint and lemon balm. It also contains a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement which includes limestone for additional calcium and magnesium as this is often deficient in UK soils. www.horsehage.co.uk

GLOBAL HERBS:

GREEN PACKAGING INITIATIVE ollowing considerable and consistent end user demand for a reduction in plastic in packaging, Global Herbs has acted by initiating a plan to change its packaging, starting with the removal of plastic bags and scoops.

The company ran a survey among customers to gauge the strength of feeling, which was overwhelmingly in favour of reducing the amount of plastic used.

Since its inception some 25 years ago, Global Herbs has worked towards a vision to escape the chemical world and provide a natural source of wellness for horses and dogs through traditional nutritional supplements, backed by modern science. Their range of herbal products have stood the test of time, and now the company is extending this ethos to its packaging.

The inner plastic bag that contained the product inside the green tub will be removed from all products manufactured after November 2018, and from then the product will be placed directly in to the tub. This will apply to all powder products except for GlobalVite, Turmeric, Alphabute and MagCalm, which need the additional plastic wrapper due to the nature of their ingredients.

The plastic bag was used as an aid to convenience in the manufacturing process and customers can rest assured that this change will make no

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difference to the quality of Global Herbs’ products.

The standard scoop that was automatically provided in each green tub will also be removed from all products.

This will apply to all powder products with the exception of Alphabute, which will continue to be provided with a smaller than standard scoop. 98% of end users surveyed said they would prefer not to automatically receive a scoop with each product in the interests of reducing plastic use. Scoops will still be available free of charge at the point of purchase from retail stockists or online for any customers who need one.

Donna Rourke-Houguez, Sales and Marketing Manager for Global Herbs, explains: “We surveyed our customers ahead of making this change and an incredible 98% said they were in favour of us doing so! It is our aim to completely remove plastic packaging from our products and taking out the plastic bags and the scoops is just the first step.”

Global Herbs see this as a positive step forward for the brand. “We are working to source practical packaging alternatives for our products in the future,” added Donna. www.global herbs.co.uk

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HEALTH & WELFARE

BANISH THE WINTER BLUES

By Andrew Stennett

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orse owners look ahead to winter with a sense of trepidation.

Riding on a crisp, frosty morning sounds idyllic but in reality it is often more a case of battling the muddy elements just trying to turn your horse out in the field. As the nights pull in so does the sense of dread.

At Grove House Stables LLP owner Andrew Stennett knows only too well the difficulties of caring for a horse through winter. Running a busy equestrian centre, Andrew and his team have 35 horses and ponies to look after.

Organisation is the key advises Andrew: “We all own horses because we enjoy riding and very often during winter the chores can take up all the time, leaving very little time for actually riding, especially if you are juggling a full-time job with caring for your horse.

“When you are dashing to the yard before work at 6.30am in the morning it is vital that everything is ready, feeds are

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Andrew’s top tips to cope with winter: • Fill a weeks’ worth of haynets at the weekend to save time.

• Stock up on hay and bedding if you have access to storage space.

• Turn your horse out daily if possible and prepare the stable in the morning, ready to bring your horse in, in the evening.

• If your horse must be stabled, try to turn them out in an arena for an hour, while you muck out.

• Just remove mud and dirt from areas of the body to prevent Fill a weeks' worth of Don't neglect daily the tack from rubbing. haynets at the health checks • Don’t neglect daily health weekend to save time checks.

• Hire an indoor school if your facilities are frozen or waterlogged.

Winter can be a challenge for horse owners so if you are really struggling ask yourself if it would be better for your horse to be on full livery for the winter months.

This way you only have the enjoyable part of owning a horse mixed and haynets are filled in his welfare needs are met. to worry about. It can seem advance. Also, it can be Think about which jobs are costly but by the time you have tempting to rush off to work, essential and which can be left added up the fuel from two trips with the intention of mucking until the weekend. Grooming to the yard a day on top of all out in the evening. I would your horse is important but the feed and bedding, it might always recommend mucking out when time is limited just seem the more sensible option. in the morning and leaving the removing the mud from areas stable ready for your horse to where the tack might rub is fine Grove House Stables LLP offers both their indoor and outdoor come in at night.” if it means the difference all-weather arenas for hire to That said, not all horses have between riding and not. help ease the burden of winter the luxury of still being turned When prioritising jobs, don’t for horse-owners, providing a out all day during winter. If your neglect the daily checks. Thick solution to riding during bad horse must stay in the stable for winter coats and rugs can weather and the dark nights. long periods this brings with it prevent you from spotting Prices start from £20 an hour for extra pressure to ensure your wounds and swellings early. up to two horses. horse is still ridden every day or Keep an eye out for signs of mud www.grovehousestables.co.uk is at least allowed an hour in the fever. Prompt first aid treatment field or an arena to guarantee is crucial to a quick recovery.

Mary’s TIPS TO HELP YOU MANAGE WINTER

n winter the horses’ fields can end up looking like a war zone. Huge puddles and churned up ground can be an owner’s nightmare when trying to keep horses clean and mud fever free.

Without doubt the muddy fields will mean your horse will be dirtier especially after a good roll.

Even if you are short on time it is important to make sure the areas where your tack will sit on the horse are clean and a dirt free zone before you ride.

Plaiting your horse’s tail into a hunting knot prevents it becoming knotted and is easier to brush through. It is also worth spraying on product to help keep it tangle and knot free.

Investing in some products that provide your horse’s coat with a shine might aid the mud coming off and will prove a great timesaver.

Be vigilant for mud fever because it thrives in wet and muddy conditions. Seek good advice before it gets out of hand – one day mud fever can look insignificant and the next it takes hold and can cause major infection.

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A full turnout rug that goes all the way up the horse’s neck not only provides more warmth for your horse but also keeps them much cleaner.

The Bucas Power Turnout Extra (right) is one of my favourites and is a fantastic fit on all the horses whatever their size and build.

Only having to brush the legs and head is a much better option than muddy, tangled manes which can prove difficult to untangle.

Missing shoes become more of a problem in winter due to the boggy conditions therefore it is important to check your horse’s feet every day. A quick run around the field can easily result in the loss of a shoe not only costing money but also time and effort booking and waiting for the farrier.

While picking out your horses feet check for any signs of a loose shoe and also any infection or thrush.

Remember to clip your horse appropriately to the workload he will be doing over the winter. It makes grooming easier and avoids the issues of a sweaty

horse after being ridden. Also the amount of hair you take off will determine how much you have to rug up (which in itself can be a labour of love).

When it comes to the horses that are staying in work over winter, the Bucas Celtic Stable Extra is another rug I choose for when they are in the stable as it offers superb strength, performance and durability.

When you are riding consider hacking and schooling with an exercise blanket to keep your

HERE THE LEGENDARY MARY KING OFFERS SOME TOP TIPS ON HOW TO MANAGE THE COLDER MONTHS, COURTESY OF HER SPONSOR BUCAS RUGS. horse or pony warm. This can help in escaping injuries caused by tight or cold muscles.

Because of the cold weather, when exercising your horse or pony it is best to take longer in warming up and cooling down to allow the horses muscles to be in the best condition.

A good cooler rug will help cool down and dry off a sweaty horse after work and there is a wide choice available with specialist materials to choose from. www.zebraproducts.co.uk

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HEALTH & WELFARE HAYGAIN EXAMINE A NUMBER OF COMMON HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS FOR HORSES DURING WINTER TIME AND EXPLAIN THE STEPS OWNERS CAN TAKE TO MAKE SURE THEIR HORSES STAY HEALTHY AND AVOID COMPLICATIONS.

WINTER HORSECARE ADVICE with Haygain

here is a misconception among some horse owners that they only need to worry about keeping their horse hydrated in the summer, when exercise in the sun and heat throughout the day can cause sweating and dehydration.

Paying attention to how much water your horse consumes in the warmer months, and providing electrolytes where necessary is crucial, but ensuring they are well hydrated is equally important in the winter too.

T

DEHYDRATION >>>

Why do horses become dehydrated during the colder months?

During the winter, a horse’s access to grass will be limited as grass growth slows and they are highly likely to spend more time stabled and being fed dried, stored forage. Dried forage, as the name suggests, contains less moisture than grass, so the animal is immediately losing

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some of the water from it’s diet.

In addition to this, horses find drinking extremely cold water, sometimes partially frozen, far less inviting than they do the rest of the year and so they avoid drinking as much water as they actually need to.

Horses who are badly dehydrated can suffer from fatigue, kidney failure and a host of other serious complications, but even mild dehydration can lead to more serious issues.

Impaction colic, where food clumps together and blocks part of the horse’s intestines, can be triggered by the animal being dehydrated.

How do I know if my horse isn’t getting enough water?

It is important to note that prevention is far better than a cure – a horse has to have lost 5% of their body weight before any visible outward signs occur (these could be sunken eyes,

skin tenting or fatigue), so don’t wait to see signs that there is a problem before making stable management changes. A healthy horse should drink between 6.5 and 9 gallons of water every day, so a good place to start is to monitor how much your horse is drinking each day.

The fact that horses are often stabled more in winter makes it easier to monitor how much water they are drinking, unless you have automatic drinkers of course.

How can you ensure your horse stays

hydrated in winter?

If your horse undertakes strenuous exercise during the winter, feeding electrolytes in the same way as you would in summer will be necessary to ensure you are replacing essential blood salts lost in sweat. Equines sweat slightly differently to humans, and as a result they don’t get such an immediate ‘thirst trigger’ during or after exercise in the same way we do. Perhaps that’s where the old saying ‘you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink’ comes from, but it does add another important reason to the list of why owners need to ensure horses have every opportunity to stay hydrated.

Ensure there is always a plentiful supply of clean water, and make sure drinkers, troughs and buckets are kept clean. The same chores that we carry out in the summer are considerably less attractive in the winter, leading to dedicated horse owners having frozen hands, but they do still need to be addressed!

Some owners have found that adding apple juice or some mint leaves to the water can aid its palatability but make sure you always offer ‘plain’ fresh water alongside this, in case your equine objects to fruity flavours in their water.

Research has shown that horses are less inclined to drink cold water, so in the winter ensuring you have access to water heaters may be a good investment to help keep them drinking as much as possible. Owners of geriatric horses who could be suffering from sore or broken teeth should be aware that their

SOAKING VERSUS STEAMING HAY >>>

horse will find drinking very cold water uncomfortable and could consider providing a bucket of slightly warmer water for them to drink from.

As we mentioned a little earlier in this piece, what you feed your horse in winter will also impact their levels of hydration.

If you provide hard feeds then add some water to each bucket – it may not be much, but every little will help.

Steaming hay also adds moisture into the forage.

Studies have found that steaming increases the water content of hay by three-times, from 8% to 23%, demonstrating just how much moisture is added to the forage which will then be fed to the horse.

Soaking hay or wetting it down with a hose are cheap and easy ways to remove respirable particles of dust (anything that the horse will breathe in when it is eating it), but these methods do have side effects on the hay which can in turn cause other health issues.

Respirable Particles Steaming reduces particles found in hay (dust, mould, bacteria and other microbes breathed in by the horse) by 98%, soaking dampens down 90% of respirable particles. See more overleaf.

Bacterial Content Soaking dramatically increases the bacterial content of hay – a 10-minute soak will see bacteria increase by 150%, severely impacting the hygiene quality of the hay. However steaming reduces the bacteria levels in hay by up to 99%, meaning it is all but free from harmful microbes.

Palatability Steamed hay is highly palatable, making it ideal for fussy eaters, horses recovering from surgery and those who require hay of a lower nutritional

value, whereas several studies have shown that soaking reduces the palatability of hay – particularly when forage is soaked overnight.

Nutritional Value Soaking leaches nutrients out of hay, reducing its mineral and protein levels. Steaming has no effect whatsoever on the nutritional quality of hay, so is perfect for sport horses who need energy from food.

Environmental Impact Soaking a bale of hay uses between 60-100 litres of water, whereas steaming the same volume of forage will only use 4 litres of water. Steaming also produces no toxic outflows, but water left behind after soaking hay can be 9 times more polluting than raw sewage.

Labour Hay is very heavy and unwieldy after it has been soaked and moving a bale of soaked hay even in a sturdy wheelbarrow can be hard work. Steamed hay is clean to handle and there is no difference in weight versus untreated hay.

HEALTH & WELFARE

Horses can become insulin-resistant for a range of reasons including obesity, metabolic syndrome, equine Cushing’s disease, and can be insulin sensitive due to polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM).

Owners of insulin-resistant horses face a tricky conundrum – they need to limit the levels of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) in their horse’s feed to lower the risk of complications such as laminitis but also know that horses have evolved as trickle-feeders. In an ideal world their horses would be able to browse for and consume lowerquality grass-based forage all day long without the risk of high sugar and carbohydrate levels.

Good quality hay can present a problem for insulin-resistant or sensitive horses, and some owners turn to soaking to make it more suitable. Soaking removes water soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) and NCS from hay, and the longer it is soaked for the more of these nutrients you remove.

Recent research has looked at the effects of steaming on NSCs in hay, to see if this could take the place of soaking hay.

In order to be safely ‘free-fed’ to insulin-resistant horses, hay should have an NSC level of less than 10%. The results of this study showed that while soaking still remains the most effective method for lowering the levels of NSCs in hay, steaming it also had an impact.

Soaked hay reduced the levels of NSCs versus those seen in the dry

hay by 16.8%, and steaming reduced them by 7.2%. The hay in the study had a very high level of NSCs to begin with (20.8%), so in this case none of the hay (soaked, steamed or dry), would have been suitable for an insulinresistant horse.

A different study looked at the hay ‘as-sampled’ instead of dry, which considers the moisture levels of the hay when it is being used in a realistic stable environment. In this study, the NSC levels in steamed hay were within the limits acceptable to be free-fed to insulin-resistant horses. Both studies showed that the steamed hay retained important minerals, bar iron which actually contributes to insulin resistance. Steaming also mitigates the other negative outcomes from soaking such as increase in bacteria levels and decreased palatability as discussed on the previous page.

Horse owners looking for an easy way to lower NSC levels in hay for their insulin-resistant horse whilst ensuring that it remains palatable and safe, should soak first and then steam recommend researchers1.

This is the most effective method to produce a low-calorie clean, safe hay.

Keeping horses indoors is a normal part of modern stable management, but it’s not always the most natural nor the healthiest choice for the horse.

The levels of respirable dust are far higher in a stable than they

to measure where stable dust is coming from and when dust levels are at their highest.

Multiple studies have shown that respirable dust levels are affected by the choice of bedding, the forage that is fed and the stable management activities that are carried out.

For example, various common horse care activities can raise the levels of respirable particles in the stable including mucking out, adding new bedding and sweeping the floor. The dust levels measured in the daytime were twice as high as night-time levels, showing that stable management activity has an enormous impact on the amount of dust in the air and

RESPIRABLE DUST IN STABLES >>>

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ever will be in the open air and this can have an immediate impact on respiratory health, so if a horse has to be stabled it is important to minimise the exposure to dust.

In order to limit a horse’s exposure to dust, it is necessary

therefore that the horses are breathing in. Therefore, if it is possible, it is wise to remove horses from a stable when mucking out and sweeping is taking place.

While all the contributory factors listed above have an impact on the horse’s respiratory health, it is important to be able to measure exactly what is in the horse’s breathing zone, the air the horse takes in with every breath. Researchers have used cyclone personal air samplers to measure the dust particles in a horse’s breathing zone as it goes about its normal daily routine in the stable. The results of these studies showed that, while the choice of bedding is important

1 Moore-Colyer MJS, Lumbis K, Longland AC, Harris PA

INSULIN-RESISTANT HORSE >>>

Event rider Georgie Spence has joined horse health experts Haygain as a supported rider.

Georgie has been using the Haygain products for some time and relies on their patented technology to ensure her horses feel their GEORGIE SPENCE best for their JOINS HAYGAIN AS International and top SUPPORTED RIDER level competition.

“Team Spence will be working closely with Haygain to ensure the horses stay happy and healthy. We have been using Haygain for nearly two years now so it’s great to receive advice and support from a company we already value so highly!”

Haygain are well known for their products that support horse health, Their collection includes steamers ranging from £695 to £2,845, as well as the Slow Feeder Forager, their sealed, one piece ComfortStall flooring system and the Flexineb Nebuliser. www.haygain.co.uk

when you are trying to reduce dust levels in the stable, it was actually the feed chosen that impacted the quality of the air breathed in by a horse most of all. In addition, even if the stable is incredibly well-ventilated, any dust present in forage will be breathed in as the horse selects and eats their food.

Using a Haygain Steamer to treat hay before it is fed lowers the dust in a horse’s personal breathing zone by 99%, ensuring the horse can eat for hours on end without risk of respiratory disease.

In addition, while Americanstyle barns have other benefits for horse health and stable management, they were worse

for respiratory health than traditional stable blocks where each horse has its own individual space when the dust in the horses’ breathing zone was tested.

The ideal combination for promoting good respiratory health is for a horse to be bedded on good quality wood shavings, in an individual stable and fed steamed hay.

HAYGAIN LAUNCH ‘TRY BEFORE YOU BUY’ SCHEME

Science-driven horse health specialists Haygain have launched an innovative scheme giving riders and owners the chance to trial their patented forage steamers before committing to the purchase.

The scheme is available with the following conditions; The HGOne (pictured) RRP £649 is perfect for single horse ownership. Pay a trial fee of just £100 and a refundable deposit of £200 to test the steamer for 2 weeks. Should you decide you don't wish to commit to the purchase, be sure to arrange collection of the steamer, returning in all original packaging. Shipping and collection is free. Other sizes available on request.

Should you wish to keep the steamer, simply pay the outstanding amount (£349) to continue using and to purchase the product. www.haygain.co.uk/pages/ try-before-you-buy.

Product News...

Oxygen is taken into the body through the lungs and then transported through a network of blood vessels to the muscles. As exercise increases so does the pressure on these two systems which becomes even greater when the horse is asked to gallop or jump fences. Bleader Gard Powder helps to support these vital structures and should be fed daily to horses in strenuous training and competition and ‘topped up’ on the day of competition with Bleader Gard Paste.

Available in 908g (a two month supply at maintenance). Also available 30ml paste (3 x 10ml servings). RRP: £49.99.

Coff-Less Powder soothes the airways promoting clear healthy lungs, whilst providing support to the immune system. CoffLess can be used in the short term to support respiratory health, which can then be maintained using Airways Xtra Strength Powder.

However, Coff-Less may be used daily, long term, for those horses with weak respiration, laboured breathing or that have a sensitivity to dust and mould spores found in the air, hay and bedding.

Available in 908g (a two month supply at maintenance).

RRP: £42.99. www.equineamerica.co.uk

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HEALTH & WELFARE regime in just the same way as a human athlete, to improve technique, to build up cardiovascular fitness, strength and conditioning, as well as rehearse performance.

Event rider and trainer Harriet Morris-Baumber tries to keep her horses in work throughout winter as she believes it is counter-productive to rough them off only to start all over again ahead of spring.

SHOULD YOU GIVE YOUR HORSE A

WINTER BREAK?

iding in the dark, wearing numerous layers of clothing to protect against the cold and trying to look after your horse when riding in muddy

R

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conditions – winter is not the best time to own a horse. So, should you consider giving your horse a winter break?

A competition horse is an athlete that follows a training

Said Harriet: “Muscle tone and condition that has been built up over the summer can be maintained with light to medium levels of work. A period of time off will mean the muscles, tendons and ligaments will require re-conditioning, so a gradual return to exercise would be necessary in order to avoid injuries.”

Trying to get a horse fully fit for the season ahead can be time consuming especially if the training plan is interrupted by adverse weather. A week off here and there won’t make much difference but any longer and muscle tone will begin to reduce and fitness levels will start to drop.

only a matter of weeks away and you can soon feel like your back is against the wall.

Harriet appreciates that she is in a privileged position in that riding and teaching is her career, which means she can ride during the day and is not restricted by another job or school, as is the case for some children trying to keep their ponies fit over winter.

So, how can you make the most of the time available to keep your horse ticking over during the winter months so you are good to go in spring?

Make the most of the time at the weekend, this way you only need to ride once during the week. If you are lucky enough to have access to an arena with flood lights aim to school your horse during the week.

Use the weekend to go for long hacks, for jumping practice or book some lessons. If you have your own transport take advantage of local competitions or hire nearby indoor or allweather facilities to vary the routine.

“Make things work for you and if you can only ride at the weekend consider sharing your Apart from a week off over the horse with someone that can Christmas period, Harriet tries to ride during the week. I offer this maintain her horses in full work service to my clients, which so that if bad weather strikes works really well and helps to and her horses are forced into a keep any silliness in check,” break in training, she knows she added Harriet. is pretty much still on track.

Also, remember to feed Bringing a horse back into work according to workload during during the depth of winter can winter and alter the rations prove challenging, when the during breaks in training. wind is blowing and the www.harriet-morristemperature plummets; add to baumber.co.uk this the psychological pressure that the competition season is

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t’s that time of year again for Northern Hemisphere horse owners when the grass growth slows down, and mud makes an unwelcome return. For many, mud is simply an irritation that makes fields slippery, means extra hours will be spent grooming horses and the return of extremely dirty clothes and boots. For others mud is a dreaded symptom of the wet and cold weather of winter which triggers mud fever in their beloved horse, and a battle ahead to keep limbs dry, clean and infectionfree.

What is mud fever?

Mud fever refers to a wide range of equine skin diseases that cause dermatitis and irritation to the lower limbs in horses, and as the name would suggest it is most often seen in equines in wet and muddy conditions during the winter months.

Most mud fever is caused by the infectious agent dermatophilus congolensis, which is able to thrive in wet, muddy and mild conditions, but there are other bacterial organisms and mites that can cause similar symptoms.

Horses standing in muddy fields for long periods of time, or those exposed to long spells of damp and mild weather are the most likely candidates for mud fever, but it can also occur if legs are repeatedly washed and not properly dried off, in the same way our hands can chafe in winter.

Standing in dirty stables can also allow mud fever to take hold, as can tight bandaging and rubbing from overreach boots.

HERE ARCEQUINE EXAMINE WHY MUD FEVER OCCURS AND HOW THEIR MICROCURRENT DEVICE CAN BE A KEY TOOL IN AIDING THE TREATMENT AND RECOVERY OF HORSES SUFFERING FROM MUD FEVER.

MUD FEVER AID RECOVERY FROM

How can the ArcEquine help support and speed up recovery from mud fever?

The cells in injured tissues, such as those damaged by mud fever, exhibit a significantly reduced ability What are the symptoms? to heal and regenerate, and while One of the most characteristic and recognisable symptoms of mud the treatment detailed above fever are the crusty scabs that form, clumping hair in them and with removes the infectious organism a creamy yellow discharge coming from ulcerated lesions and prevents infection of the skin, it underneath. This discharge contains the organism that causes mud does not accelerate tissue repair. fever, so both the scabs and the discharge must be completely Microcurrent devices, such as the ArcEquine device (ÂŁ449 for the removed. Depending on the severity of the mud fever there may be complete kit), have been proven to be highly effective in supporting deep, raw horizontal cracks in the skin above the heel, and and accelerating tissue repair, in some cases increasing the recovery significant heat and swelling in the leg. time by 50%. Microcurrent therapy is 100% drug free and nonHow can mud fever be treated? invasive, meaning it can be safely used alongside other veterinary The skin needs to be kept clean and dry for the skin to successfully treatment. recover, as the infectious organism causing the problem loves warm, The ArcEquine microcurrent device supports the natural currents wet conditions. As mentioned above, the scabs need to be removed used by all healthy cells to produce Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), to ensure the discharge can be effectively cleaned and removed, and which kick-starts effective healing in damaged tissue much sooner the sore skin underneath treated and rinsed. After this the limb and reduces inflammation, which means the horse is in less must be carefully (it will be sore) and thoroughly dried and then discomfort while that healing takes place. The ArcEquine device is treated with an anti-inflammatory agent. Bandaging may be useful battery operated, so there are no wires to worry about, and it simply to keep the affected limb/limbs clean, but it is absolutely critical that straps to a limb (and it can be any limb, as the healing is systemic, the skin is completely dry first. meaning the microcurrents travel throughout the body). Using This pattern of treatment will need to be repeated until the skin is ArcEquine for a minimum of 3 hours a day for 6 weeks will promote recovering and healed over. As the affected area needs to be kept tissue repair and recovery from conditions such as mud fever. clean and dry for mud fever treatment, this means that they may be www.arcequine.com on restricted work and turnout for that time.

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HEALTH & WELFARE

KEEPING MUD FEVER AT BAY

FOR OVER A DECADE

Sean with Michael Whitaker and his wife Melissa at one of the many shows Botanica attends!

W

inter has arrived, and with it wet, cold weather, long, dark nights and mud, mud everywhere. And unfortunately, where there’s mud, there’s often mud fever.

When it comes to tackling mud fever, you need to know that the mode of attack you use works.

So, it will be reassuring to know that natural skin care company Botanica has been helping horse owners to get control of mud

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fever for well over a decade.

Sean Cooney, the founder of Botanica, is a man dedicated to creating natural skin care products that get results where all others fail and is a regular at horse shows and events up and down the country, from the biggies like Badminton and Burghley to more regional shows such as South Gloucestershire Show or the Midland Game Fair.

Sean explains, “Our customers have had fantastic results over the years using a combination of Botanica Cleansing Wash and Botanica Herbal Cream, even on the most severe cases of mud fever.

“We recommend a two-pronged approach, which involves firstly diluting the Cleansing Wash as per instructions and massaging well into the affected area, which gently lifts the scabs and allows the wash to penetrate.

We advise that you should not

rinse the wash off, instead leaving for three to five minutes to allow the soothing, antiseptic qualities to work.

“The next phase then is to apply Botanica Herbal Cream, massaging well in. Repeat twice daily and by the second week you will have hair regrowth.”

The Botanica range is made from 100% natural ingredients and the company stands over the effectiveness of all of its products. So, if you are faced with mud fever this season, choose Botanica to make it a thing of the past.

For more information on Botanica’s range of natural skin care products see www.botanica.ie. If you have any questions about skin care issues you may have with your horse, call Botanica on 028 417 39151 or email enquiries@botanica.ie

f Treat yoursel to a little ..

Botanica care.

While Botanica is tried and trusted for the care of horse’s skin by horse owners around the world, from grassroots riders to Olympians, this year saw the introduction of Botanica Eternal Youth Cream, so you can now protect and nourish your own skin naturally!

Eternal Youth Cream is a rich, moisturising cream with vitamins: A (Retinol), B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, D, E, F, Omega 3 and Omega 6 to help protect your skin against the winter ahead.

Formulated using only natural ingredients and containing Aloe Vera Gel, Rosehip Oil, Wheat Germ Oil and Comfrey Oil, Botanica Eternal Youth Cream uses the company’s decades of experience in protecting and nourishing healthy skin to give you an affordable skin cream that really works.

DON’T

HEALTH & WELFARE

FORGET

SMARTER

YOUR PASSPORT!

GOALS FOR 2019 very year I encourage clients to make a vision board of the year ahead and as we step into 2019 I encourage Absolute Horse readers to do the same... and more!

Decide what are reasonable goals for 2019 across all areas of your lifestyle including career, money, health, family and friends, significant other, personal growth, fun/recreation and physical environment.

Generally we overestimate what we can achieve in a year but underestimate what we can do in five years.

How to get started on YOUR S.M.A.R.T.E.R goals:

E

SPECIFIC - These should be specific to what you want to accomplish, ie in dressage, where are you losing marks, is it accuracy, do you need to improve ring craft, or is it your own stiffness in your back that’s stifling fluidity in movement etc, rather than general ‘I want to improve my dressage’?

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MEASURABLE - ‘Doing your best’ isn’t an effective goal.

For example a measurable goal might be achieving three double clears in the next month.

ACCEPTED - Take ownership of your goals. These have to be set by you and not your coaches or parents! When you’ve set your own goals that you that you have emotional attachment to and deeply believe in, you’ll find yourself working towards them everyday without questioning them.

REALISTIC - Don’t set goals that are within your comfort zone but equally don’t set goals that are too challenging and are unrealistic. It means that they need to be just one to three steps out of your comfort zone, so they’re exciting and challenging.

TIME LIMITED - All goals need to have a time limit on them and written down otherwise they’re aimless goals.

EXCITING - The brain loves FUN! Set goals that are fun,

BY SAMANTHA HARDINGHAM

inspiring and exciting, otherwise when setbacks and disappointment kick in you’ll lack the joy and drive to carry on.

RECORDED - We have 50,000 to 70,000 thoughts going through our heads every single day! If your goals aren’t written or drawn daily, they’re just thoughts passing through our brains. When you’ve set out your goals in a time frame, break them down to what needs to be done, every year, every month, every week and everyday in order to achieve them. Check in with your goals every week to see if you’re on track. Don’t forget goals and life can change and the goals once set may need to be adjusted along the journey. Things happen for a reason, look for the good or the opportunity in the set back and use it to your advantage, it might lead you to an even better more satisfying goal or achievement!

Have a wonderful festive season and a happy new year!

H

orse owners and livery yards are being advised to bring their horse’s passport when purchasing animal medicines such as wormers. This follows a horse medicines guidance update from the VMD (Veterinary Medicines Directorate) which says that prescribers should ask to see the passport.

Stephen Dawson, secretary general of AMTRA, the regulatory authority representing some 7,000 AMTRA SQPs, registered animal medicines advisors, was keen to point out, “It’s important to note that while we are encouraging owners to bring their passports along, not bringing the passport doesn’t prevent the horse being wormed or benefiting from other medicines.

“It just means that if the vet, pharmacist or AMTRA SQP prescribing and supplying medicines has not recently seen the horse’s passport and been able to confirm personally that it has been signed out of the food chain, they have to act accordingly.

As the horse is a foodproducing species under EU law, then without the passport it must be assumed the horse may enter the food chain, and the wormer or other medicine chosen accordingly.”

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN: CEVA ANIMAL WELFARE AWARDS

Returning for its seventh year, the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards 2019 will once again celebrate the achievements of remarkable people who dedicate their lives to improving animal health and welfare both in the UK and abroad.

Outstanding farmers, vets, vet nurses, animal welfare professionals and animal welfare teams can now be nominated to receive an award by their peers and the general public.

If there is a vet, vet nurse, animal welfare professional or animal welfare team that you feel deserves to be recognised for their ongoing commitment to animal welfare, visit www.cevawelfareawards.com to nominate. Entries must be in by Friday 25th January 2019.

HORSE INDUSTRY APPLAUDS SUCCESS OF NEHS SURVEY

In its eighth and final year the annual National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) has confirmed its importance as an accurate tracker of endemic equine disease in the UK. The results of the 2018 survey remain consistent with previous survey results, providing a clear sense of what continues to affect the health of British horses year on year, helping equine specialists to benchmark and educate on current and predicted equine health priorities.

Pioneered by national pet charity, Blue Cross, in partnership with the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) NEHS’s aim was to provide a landscape on horse health and welfare in the UK and the results over the years have certainly achieved this.

The important information generated by NEHS has helped pinpoint trends in endemic equine diseases. The emerging patterns are now helping to steer equine awareness, education and research to help keep the nation’s horses healthier.

The results were:

1. Skin problems (33%) 2. Lameness incl. laminitis (29%) 3. Metabolic diseases (7.4%) 4. Respiratory diseases (7%) 5. Eye problems (6%) Individual disease syndrome 1. Proximal limb (non foot) lameness (18.5%) 2. Laminitis (5.4%) 3. Mud fever (6.7%) 4. Sweet itch (7.3%) 5. PPID (Cushing’s Disease) (5.3%)

HEALTH & WELFARE

STAMP OUT STRANGLES!

meaningful changes so together we can stay one step ahead of Strangles and stamp out this disease for good.”

The Pledge has been endorsed

by LiveryList, the UK’s largest livery yard directory. Cheryl Johns, Founder, added: “There is edwings Horse immediately if a Strangles case is an increased demand from horse owners for yards and their staff Sanctuary is urging suspected. to have an active part in horse owners to join its The Pledge is part of a brandfight to stamp out Strangles in new Stamp Out Strangles online ensuring the health and welfare the UK as part of the latest hub created by the charity, full of of their clients’ horses. This has now evolved into many yards stage of its award-winning free information and advice on campaign. spotting the signs of the disease insisting on screening and Owners and livery yard managers and preventing or managing an isolation for new arrivals, which gives confidence to horse can make an online pledge, outbreak. All Pledgers will owners.” showing their commitment to receive regular campaign www.redwings.org.uk/ help prevent the devastating updates so they can keep and highly infectious disease, informed of the latest guidance strangles which can cause misery not just and stay one step ahead of the for horses but the wider disease. equestrian community.

Horse owners can also access a As ‘Pledgers’, horse owners will map of livery yards who have be agreeing to champion good signed up to the Pledge so they biosecurity practices, to can see which businesses are communicate openly if their committed to helping protect horse may have been in contact their horse from Strangles. with strangles and to clear their Redwings’ Education and horse of being a Strangles carrier Campaigns Manager, Andie if they become infected.

Vilela, said: “We understand it Yard manager Sarah said: "The Meanwhile yard managers will can be hard to make changes to Stamp Out Strangles campaign be pledging to reduce the hygiene practices, especially helps yards to be proactive and Strangles risk at their businesses while fitting busy lives around reduce their risk of an outbreak." through screening new arrivals, caring for horses. However, we producing a yard protocol for know the appetite to improve their clients and responding biosecurity standards is out there. Over 90% of more than 2,000 horse owners we surveyed said Strangles should be more of a priority, and 80% said they would choose a livery yard that screens new arrivals for the disease.

Horse owner Jemima has made the “With the launch of the Pledge pledge. She said: "Reducing the risk and our brand new online hub, of Strangles has become our yard we hope this will give horse ethos, and I feel my horses are as owners and yard managers the safe as they can be thanks to the impetus and support to make efforts our manager has made."

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STRANGLES RESEARCH RECEIVES FUNDING

Photo: Nick Parkinson

MAKE THE PLEDGE TO

World-leading scientists from the Animal Health Trust (AHT) in Newmarket have announced they will benefit from a three-year funding grant from Tattersalls to help in their fight against Strangles.

Strangles is caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus equi (S. equi), and is the most commonly diagnosed infectious disease of horses in the world. It is estimated that more than 600 outbreaks of Strangles occur in the UK each year.

Strangles is highly contagious and is passed from one horse to another via the nose or mouth through direct contact, or contact with infected items.

The bacteria enters a horse’s lymph nodes which then swell, develop abscesses and rupture, shedding pus and bacteria into the environment.

The funding will help to launch a new international Strangles surveillance scheme which will allow assessment of its welfare impact and highlight trends in different geographical areas.

‘ALARMING’ FINDINGS AT HARTPURY UNIVERSITY orse riders are overestimating how much they actually know about equine topics, according to the ‘alarming’ results of new research by Hartpury University.

Dr Jane Williams – Head of the Animal and Agriculture Department at Hartpury – joined Dr David Marlin, Dr Hayley Randle from Charles Sturt University and Dr Lynn Pal in carrying out the first study of its kind into the Dunning-Kruger (DK) effect on equestrians.

The DK effect is when people who show low levels of competence in carrying out a

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particular task mistakenly believe they are performing better than they actually are.

The new study suggested equestrians don’t have a realistic insight into their own equine knowledge – potentially putting themselves and their horses at risk of injury.

Dr Williams said: “This is the first study to demonstrate horse riders over-estimate their knowledge, indicating an overconfidence.

“For the equine industry, the findings from this preliminary study are very alarming and raise welfare, mental health and safety concerns.”

WIN! WIN! WIN!

TWo READERS To WIN AN

ASPEy JACKET!

Whether you’re hacking out, or going to and from the stables, the darker nights mean you need to be seen. So courtesy of Equisafety RRP: £99.90 Ltd we have two Unisex Yellow Aspey Jackets to be won.

Made using 100% waterproof, lightweight, breathable fabric the jacket comes with an exclusive pull down warning triangle that fastens at the side, which can be rolled back into the collar when not needed.

Features include: 360° of reflection and fluorescent properties, strong two-way front zip, inside zipped pocket and mobile phone pocket and two large, hidden pockets. www.equisafety.com

To enter: Visit www.absolutehorsemagazine.com and click on the Competitions page. Entries open 1st December 2018 and close 31st January 2019.

HEALTH & WELFARE

DON’T LET THEM SUFFER IN SILENCE: BEVA LAUNCHES ONLINE GUIDE TO DENTAL CARE

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ental problems in horses tend to be hidden, often causing the horse to suffer in silence. This is why routine dental care is so important, advises the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA). Now, thanks to BEVA’s new online dental resources, owners can confidently navigate the numerous dental care options on offer to make sure their horse never has to suffer in silence.

Routine dentistry in the horse is not just about rasping teeth – in fact this is the straightforward part. The examination of the mouth is by far the most important aspect, just as it is in human dentistry.

Equine vets are trained not only to look at the whole of horse’s mouth but also the horse as a whole.

BEVA’s new online resource has been compiled specifically for horse owners. It explains exactly what routine dentistry entails and who is qualified to do what in your horse’s mouth – there are strict regulations limiting what non-vets can do.

“The term ‘dentist’ should only be applied to the human field and there is no direct equine equivalent, though vets with diploma level qualifications are the nearest thing,” explains Neil Townsend

MSc BVSc Cert ES (Soft Tissue) DipECVS DipEVDC (Equine) MRCVS RCVS Specialist in Equine Surgery European Specialist in Equine Dentistry. “Only veterinary surgeons can administer treatments such as antibiotics and antiinflammatories and provide sedation, whether oral or intravenous.”

The online guide explains the various qualifications of equine vets and equine dental technicians. In terms of vets RCVS Specialists are at the top of the qualification tree. Next come those with the Advanced Practitioner status in Equine Dentistry and then there are vets who have passed the BEVA/BVDA (British Veterinary Dental Association) Equine Dental Technician Exam. With regard to Equine Dental Technicians the guide recommends that owners use those who are members of the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT) or category 2 members of the World Wide Association of Equine Dentists (WWAED).

The new resource also includes a useful dental anatomy section and a detailed guide on common dental problems, with informative pictures and explanations of terminology. #fromthehorsemouth Severe widespread caries in a horse fed an inappropriate high sugar diet

Young horse with multiple fractured incisors due to trauma

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DAISY’S HERBAL ANSWERS My horse is now 19 and I Daisy P rice have found that once the Herbalist , colder weather comes he starts to get a little stiff. What herbs would help him?

There are several herbs that can be used and it can be very beneficial to use a combination of herbs that together will help holistically. Herbs can be used to improve circulation, reduce inflammation, ease pain, heal and cleanse.

Depending on how he responds, different combinations of herbs can be used to suit the individual. Initiallly I would recommend a combination of Devil’s Claw, Meadowsweet, Hawthorn, Cleavers, Nettle, Rosehips and Comfrey leaf.

Devil’s Claw and Meadowsweet are both used for their anti-inflammatory actions. Devil’s Claw has been referred to as a herbal bute.

Hawthorn and Nettle will both support the circulatory system and improve blood flow to the joints. Nettle is also a great source of vitamin C, as are Rosehips and therefore, they work as excellent tonics and antioxidants.

Comfrey is widely known for it’s healing properties and will also support the circulatory and lymphatic system.

Curcumin, found in Turmeric, has also been seen to be very effective for easing the pain, inflammation and stiffness related to arthritis.

As it is fat soluble this must be fed with an oil to allow the body to absorb it and fresh black pepper to increase its effectiveness.

Herbs need to be introduced gradually to feeds and fed for 4-5 weeks to see the full benefits. If your pet is having medication from the vet, you should always check before using herbs. www.champerenebespokehorseherbal.com

SADDLERy & TACK

IN THIS ISSUE WE TALK TO THE EXPERTS AT THE SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ITS WORK IN THE INDUSTRY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING THE RIGHT SADDLE FOR THE JOB.

SADDLING UP:

THE FACTS!

saddle is without a doubt the most important purchase for your horse. It is a well known fact that a horse needs a correctly fitted saddle to perform to the best of its ability, but is this idea really implemented fully.

A badly fitted saddle can do a lot of damage, leading to behaviour problems or even lameness.

The huge influence the saddle has in relation to equine welfare, rider comfort and the production of optimum performance is being increasingly recognised by equine vets and physiotherapists, trainers, instructors and horse owners.

The Society of Master Saddlers

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(UK) Ltd was formed in 1966 to serve as a Trade Association for the craft retail saddler, but has since embraced all aspects of the Trade. The Society’s aims are to safeguard the quality of work, services, training and qualifications of all those who work in the saddlery trade from manufacturers and retailers through to individual craftspeople and saddle fitters.

For horse owners The Society of Master Saddlers acts as a standard that you should expect your saddle fitter to be a part of.

Having a Society of Master Saddlers Registered Qualified Saddle Fitter guarantees that they are fully qualified, professional and have a

minimum of three years experience.

Before the Society of Master Saddlers launched its saddle fitting qualification, there was very little formalised training available. Even today, the SMS qualification remains the only non-commercially-linked, fully monitored assessment in the world. Coinciding with the introduction of the saddle fitting qualification, the SMS began an extensive programme providing information and advice about the importance of a correctly fitting saddle in relation to safety, wellbeing and performance. It is a fact that todays horse owners are far more knowledgeable than their

counterparts of a few years back.

In the last couple of decades, saddle fitting has become more and more complicated. Firstly, whereas in the past most countries were largely reliant on indigenous breeds and types of horse, nowadays many breeds have become global.

Consequently, today’s saddle fitters need a far more comprehensive knowledge of the conformation of different breeds. Secondly, there are more saddle designs on the market than ever before. Innovations continue to enter the market place and ranges of specialist saddles are constantly increasing. The product knowledge demanded of today’s saddle fitters is far greater and more comprehensive than their counterparts of 20 - even 10 – years ago. And of course, saddle fitters must have a good understanding of the demands of the individual disciplines and sports and the regulations applicable to the use of tack.

SMS saddle fitters take pride in the help, information and advice they provide. Although every endeavour is made to accommodate the rider, the first priority is to provide a saddle that affords a good fit for the horse. www.mastersaddlers.co.uk

Live Streaming for Saddle Research Trust Conference

Tickets are now sold out for the Saddle Research Trust Conference on 8th December but there’s no need to miss out because the event will be live streamed by Wave FX on a pay per view basis.

A first-class line up of international speakers will be enlightening delegates about the latest research on health and welfare aspects of the horse and rider relationship, from new techniques in equine pain recognition to rider posture and equine biomechanics. New research will be presented by leading vets and scientists, including world-renowned veterinarian, author and researcher, Professor Hilary Clayton and leading equine orthopaedic expert, Dr Sue Dyson. https://goo.gl/sCSB6p

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SADDLERY

Q&A

MASTER SADDLER LAURENCE PEARMAN ANSWERS READER QUESTIONS

fitter is the professional in that field and will know more about the fit of the saddle, assuming they hold a qualification.

Q

: I am learning to ride Western and am about to purchase my first western the horse’s shape can change : I purchased a brand new saddle. I notice that the sizing is considerably depending on its dressage saddle three different to that of English work regime and seasonal months ago. At the time of saddles. How is a western changes. Also if the new saddle purchase my saddle fitter and saddle measured? trainer both told me the saddle was fitting well at the start then A western saddle is measured it may well have allowed the was a good fit. In recent days from the back of the swell, just horse to develop more muscle to below the horn at the top of the my physio and new instructor have both commented that the challenge the fit. Also it would gullet back to the leading edge be a very good idea to get the saddle no longer fits. What of the cantle or cantle board. original saddle fitter back to could have caused this change This will be shorter in distance meet up with the physio and in such a short space of time? than an English saddle which instructor at the same time, and can be 1” difference depending When looking at the new dressage saddle purchased some jointly discuss a plan of action to on the saddle, but have the deal with the problem. But three months ago, it is very correct size you feel most always remember the saddle possible during that time that comfortable in.

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Product News...

The Sprenger Dynamic RS Loose Ring bit allows a rapid and balanced effect on the tongue. The bit supports the contact to the corners of the mouth in a very effective way, keeping the horse on the bit. RRP: from £144.

New to the Amerigo range is the option of having a saddle created from high ‘Grip Leather’. Ideal for riders looking for extra grip, close feel and support in the saddle. www.zebraproducts.co.uk

THE PRoFESSIoNALS BEF YOUNG PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMME

THERE’S NO STOPPING

Monday and Tuesday before heading off again.

Whilst at home, John understands the importance of paddock maintenance and recognises the benefits good egendary showjumper “I obviously ride the younger grassland provides to horses John Whitaker MBE has horses more than my whatever their age. been winning medals experienced ones. If they need Fertilising pasture is a vital worldwide since the early 80s working every day to make component to achieving a welland shows no signals of progress when I’m at home, balanced paddock. Suregrow slowing down, even now at then that is part of their routine Fertiliser is specially designed for the age of 63. and schedule. They are often too horse and pony fields and Admired worldwide, the big, strong and naughty for my provides grass with consistent Suregrow sponsored rider has daughters who would usually healthy growth. It should be secured 24 medals at Olympic, ride them when I’m away. applied either once or twice a World and European “At the moment I have some year as required. championships. very nice younger horses Specialising in the care of Said John: “I still ride five horses climbing the ranks but as always grassland for horses and ponies, every day at home, nothing has it is everyone’s dream to Suregrow has a range of changed in that regard. I don’t compete at the major products including fertilisers, feel 63 at all. championships around the mineral and trace elements and “I might wake up in the morning world.” grass seeds specifically selected feeling a bit achy, but for some A regular week could see John for horse and pony paddocks, as reason when I’m on a horse I feel travel to a show on a Wednesday well as the ultimate in arena just as I did in my twenties. I’m or Thursday, compete there until and ground care management. far better riding than I am off a Sunday, then travel home to www.suregrowuk.com horse. train the younger horses on a

John Whitaker!

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The second cohort of riders have been inducted by British Equestrian Federation (BEF) on to the Young Professional Programme, funded by Sport England.

The 12-month programme, launched in 2017, aims is to help young riders build a wider skill-set to support their personal and career development, enabling them to thrive and earn a living in the equestrian industry and transition out of the youth development pathway.

The programme is delivered in collaboration with British Dressage, British Eventing and British Showjumping and features a series of interactive workshops, with the athletes benefiting from the expertise of business mentors from their sport and high profile speakers covering a range of topics.

The first interactive workshop was held at Stoneleigh Park recently where the inducted athletes met their mentors as well as dressage rider, Amy Schiessl, who was part of the first group of Young Professionals 2017-18.

Caroline Powell

WATER GETTING USED TO:

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hen first getting your horse used to water, have a lead at hand to guide your horse. Take into mind that a young horse cannot be expected to know that walking into water is the correct thing to do, having a lead encourages the young horse to go into water, showing him that it is safe.

As a young horse who has never been in water before they will be questioning all sorts such as how deep the water is, what is in the water and is the footing below the water safe? It is the rider’s responsibility to ensure that the water is safe, by checking beforehand you will ensure that your horse retains trust in you avoiding any bad situations.

To begin with it is advised to walk your horse into the water slowly, keep him channelled between your leg and hand.

Take your time at walking him around in the water to give him the confidence that there is nothing to worry about. Once your horse is walking confidently round in the water, repeat this exercise without the lead horse and then repeat in trot and other paces. It is a good idea to vary the direction you enter the water so that he does not become accustomed to one entrance.

Once both horse and rider are confident at entering water in a range of paces, try adding small jumps before and after the water so it gives the horse more to think about.

When it comes to stepping out of the

water, problems may occur however the rider must do their best to keep the horse balanced by keeping their leg on and nudging him up towards the steps. Slip the reins when entering the water and be prepared to quickly take up the slack as you land, giving yourself a steady contact to be able to support him as he jumps out.

Jumping into water has one main problem which is that young horses seem to over jump into it. Do not underestimate the drag effect that water can have on a horse’s stride. Even over an apparently standard distance it is difficult to predict exactly how many strides he will take in water, so be prepared for the occasional awkward jump out.

Loosen your reins when jumping into the water, as you progress though the water keep your leg on, encouraging him in the direction of the step.

Walking into water with a green horse can prove challenging due to the uncertainties of what lay beneath the water let alone jumping into water. It is important to associate a positive relationship with the

IN THIS ISSUE WE TALK TO CAROLINE POWELL ABOUT INTRODUCING YOUR YOUNGSTER TO WATER. SPONSORED BY SUREGROW, CAROLINE COVERS THE TOPICS ON THE HOW TO HANDLE THE INITIAL EXPERIENCES WITH WATER, STEPPING OUT OF THE WATER AND JUMPING INTO THE WATER. water from initial experiences to encourage your horse to perform successfully at a faster pace through water.

Remember that young horses can be unpredictable and can perform multiple walk throughs into water successfully and then for the next decide to freeze. You must be confident and be assertive whilst maintaining a good balance in the saddle if your horse does this.

Be alert at how tired your young horse is, as he can get tired quite quickly when experiencing new things, his tiredness may cause accidents as he runs out of energy. It is best to stop when you notice he is making mistakes to avoid him associating the exercise with negativity and losing confidence.

Reward your horse continually to encourage his positive behaviour. www.suregrowuk.com

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THE PRoFESSIoNALS

Lisa’sLIFE N

orton Disney was a mad busy event for us, not only because I had four horses competing on the same day, but we also managed to break down 3 miles from the event the night before.

The horses were unloaded under police supervision on the side of the A1 slip road just before Newark. They were rescued onto eventing friend Laura Erith’s lorry who kindly took them to their overnight stables. Desert Fox’s owner Paula Twinn went on with my new apprentice Ellie King to the stables with the horses. I awaited recovery with the lorry.

We broke down at 6.30pm and I finally got towed to the stables at 11.45pm! We went straight to bed. We were all exhausted.

My amazing husband came to the rescue and drove up in the early hours with Paula’s lorry to pick up the horses and bring them to the event. Tough Customer’s owners very kindly swapped to the early times and

drove through the night to get him there for a 9am dressage. I can’t thank the secretary at Norton Disney enough - she replied to my email requesting time swaps at 11pm. These people really are the unsung heroes behind the scenes. Trudy and Richard Bishop, Toughies’ owners, picked me up from the stables en route. Tough Customer delivered a super 74% test double clear. His first run at BE100 for two years he collected a few time faults to finish eleventh. My husband and crew arrived with my next three horses.

Desert Fox was a credible third in the BE100 and both novice horses ran brilliantly. Fidget posting another super double clear and Blue having just the one pole in the SJ. My lorry was towed to a mechanic in Newark who repaired it and we collected it on

Photo: Richard Weller-Poley Photography

EQUINE AMERICA BRAND AMBASSADOR LISA CLARKE-SPENCE BHSI SM IS A REGULAR ON THE EVENTING CIRCUIT AND TRAINS HORSES OF ALL ABILITIES FROM HER EQUESTRIAN CENTRE, HEMPS GREEN EQUESTRIAN, IN ESSEX.

Intermediate team members: Harry Mc Cleod, CarrieAnne Adams, Jane Buchan and Lisa Spence.

our way home!

Our next outing was Horseheath, just Tough Customer and Desert Fox ran here. Tough Customer finishing on his dressage score in the BE100 to take third and Foxy stepping up to BE105 to prepare him for some novice runs next season. I really like this class and hope we see it more. It’s a really good half way between BE100 and Novice and it definitely showed what we need to work on before novice runs next season. (See page 56 for full report). Jockey was suffering from a rotten cold but fun was had by all, and a party in the lorry afterwards for Paula Twinns’ birthday celebrations is what eventing is all about.

The end of the event season and the beginning of winter is marked by our local team chase which is always the first week in November. I love this event, it is so much fun. We fielded a team of liveries and clients for the novice and great fun was had by all. Then I used dear old buster (Temple Rexton) to join Carrie Anne Adams’ intermediate team and we only went and won the bogey time class! A great social and fun day. Even my long suffering husband came to watch! (See report page 55).

The indoor season is upon us, next month I will have details of the BRC Winter qualifiers. Let’s see if we get to try and retain our winter intermediate SJ title for the third time!

SPoNSoR’S SLoT...

Ventilator is a natural supplement specially formulated using a unique combination of herbs and natural ingredients to support a clear bronchial system and aid all aspects of respiratory health including the airways and lungs.Magic Mud Formula is a safe and soothing anti-fungal and anti-bacterial cream that can be applied regularly to the skin for healthy hooves and legs. www.equine-america.co.uk

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SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT:

Julia Krajewski

eading German event rider, Julia Krajewski, has had a phenomenal year with wins at the Military Boekelo CCIO3* as well as the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials and Luhmuhlen CIC*** And to add to the celebrations Julia has joined the team of TopSpec sponsored riders.

The North Yorkshire-based business has built excellent distribution for their range of feed balancers and other innovative horse feeds throughout Europe in recent years and continues to grow overseas. Julia is the latest rider based in Europe to join team TopSpec.

Riding Samourai du Thot, Julia won Boekelo on her dressage score after a fantastic double clear cross-country and show jumping.

In the summer Julia and her ride Chipmunk FRH were also the run-away winners of the showcase Equi-Trek CCI3* at Bramham International by a near ten point margin. The duo were a class act throughout the week having travelled from their base near Warendorf in Germany.

Said Julia: “I am delighted to have secured sponsorship

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Chipmonk FRH, competing at the World Equestrian Games, ridden and owned

by Julia Krajewski

from TopSpec and am very much looking forward to promoting the brand throughout Europe.”

Julia currently has three top horses to compete including her Bramham winner, the 10year-old Chipmunk FRH, Samourai du Thot and Amande de B’Neville. Julia followed up her Bramham success just days later with another magnificent win in the CIC*** at Luhmuhlen in Germany on Samourai du Thot.

The 29-year-old was a member of the silver medal winning German team at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and as well as riding and competing at top-level she is also much in demand as a trainer.

Julia is currently the National Coach for the Junior Eventing Team in Germany and is herself a former team member at Pony, Junior and Young Rider level before securing her place on Senior Teams.

10 FUN FACTS ABOUT Riding Schools ere Grove House Stables owner and British Equestrian Federation Elite Recreational Coach Andrew Stennett shares his thoughts on riding schools...

Riding Schools teach you a skill that you will have for the rest of your life. The best riders start at a young age.

The horses and ponies hold a special place in your heart and you will never forget the pony that taught you to ride.

They provide an opportunity to make new friends with a shared love of horses and ponies.

You will learn basic stable management skills that you will build on when owning your own horse. The immaculate straw bed that your horse loves will have been perfected during your time at Riding School.

In an age of rising childhood obesity and computer gaming, horse riding is a fantastic way to get children to spend time outdoors and keep fit while having fun.

With the rise in mental health issues amongst young people, the benefits of riding and just spending time with horses in general has been shown to promote a sense of well-being and improve confidence.

Learning to take care of any animal is a great way of teaching responsibility and for children with challenging behaviour, working with horses can help them to understand the impact of their actions.

Spending time at the stables and helping out around the yard provides a valuable insight into the commitment and time that is required when owning your own horse.

Fantastic memories are made at Riding School - long summer hacks, decorating the stables and ponies browbands with tinsel at Christmas and sharing packed lunches with friends.

Olympic aspirations start in Riding Schools. That first red rosette could one day be a gold medal!

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www.grovehousestables.co.uk

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LoVE DoGS

ROLE OF DOGS & HORSES IN WWI BLUE CROSS REMEMBERS ON ARMISTICE CENTENERY

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n the centenary of the armistice of World War One on 11th November, pet charity Blue Cross honoured the role animals played in the war – not just a vital part of the war effort, but as companions with whom soldiers forged unbreakable bonds.

In World War One, dogs and horses were indispensable. Dogs of war played an important role as lookouts, messengers and carriers of ammunitions, first-aid packs and injured soldiers.

Horses were at the heart of the cavalry, carrying gun carriages, wagons, ambulances and munitions trucks.

But the animals were also flesh and blood and extremely vulnerable. It was estimated after World War One that almost

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226,000 horses drafted into the British Army lost their lives, by 1917 there were 869, 931 horses in active military service.

While the Red Cross brought relief to the human victims of war there was no similar service for the war’s animal victims, until the Blue Cross arrived to help them.

Then known as the Our Dumb Friends League, Blue Cross set up veterinary care on the front lines, treating injured and sick horses and dogs involved in conflict. By the end of the war, the charity had treated over

50,000 sick and injured horses, and 18,000 dogs, funded entirely by donations from the public.

Blue Cross also helped soldiers who befriended dogs while posted overseas – they had shared food and fears together and many soldiers could not bear to leave them behind. But the price to quarantine the dogs to bring them home was too expensive for most soldiers to afford, so Blue Cross took over the Carlton Kennels in Shooters Hill, London as a dog quarantine

station.

Once dogs had passed the required time in quarantine, Blue Cross reunited the pair – often by packing the dog onto a train to be met by their owner at their destination.

Blue Cross Deputy Chief Executive Steve Goody said: “At Blue Cross we know animals change lives every day, but there is no time we see this more profoundly than in times of war.

In World War One animals were a huge part of the war effort, and we have an incredible archive filled with images and letters to attest to it.

Blue Cross is immensely proud of the role it played in WWI providing life-saving care to animals, as well as its work reuniting soldiers with the dogs they fought alongside and went through so much with. We think it’s vital to remember the lives of animals who were forced into battles that they had no say in, and to honour the role they played.”

Product News...

Canicross expert DogFit has launched a new course to help you get fit running with your dog. The specialised products and training provider has developed an online Couch to 5K canicross course, the first of its kind in the UK. www.dogfit.teachable.com

More Than Words has created this fun door mat, perfect for animal lovers. Measuring 70cm x 40cm it has a PVC backing and can be easily shaken or brushed down to keep clean. RRP: £32. www.morethanwords.uk.com Westcotts Adult premium dog food is sensitive on the tummy, wheat gluten and additive free. Contains Hyper Coat Prime supplement for improved skin and coat conditions. RRP £35 per 12kg - or buy two bags on line for just £25 each. www.animal-health.co.uk

IS YOUR PET YOUR HERO?

Blue Cross pet charity is calling for stories about hero pets from across the nation as nominations open for the prestigious Blue Cross Medal.

Animal lovers across the UK are being encouraged to nominate inspirational pets who could be the next medal-winner.

The Blue Cross Medal has celebrated inspirational pets for almost 80 years, and awarded its first in 1940 to a dog called La Cloche for saving his owner from drowning during the Second World War. Bravery and companionship isn’t always as dramatic as La Cloche’s story, so last year Blue Cross opened the medal up to more nominees in the hope to hear about the everyday pet hero who is changing lives in all kinds of ways. www.bluecross.org.uk/medal

ANNOUNCED AS SPONSOR:

THERAPLATE UK

he Liverpool International Horse Show (28th – 31st December) has announced its partnership with TheraPlate UK, who will not only be title sponsor of the 4* event but will also support the Liverpool International Grand Prix which takes place as part of the New Year’s Eve finale.

Dominic Fox owner of TheraPlate UK is very excited by the opportunities that the new partnership brings to his relatively new company.

“TheraPlate is a respected therapy brand in the United States and we are passionate about the exceptional results

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both for horses and for humans.

We can’t wait to show more of the equestrian world exactly what TheraPlate UK has to offer” he said.

Nina Barbour, Show Director of the Liverpool International Horse Show and an international show jumper is equally as enthusiastic: “Liverpool is still a relatively new show but in this, our fourth year having such a well-respected brand as our title sponsor continues to cement our reputation as a world class show.

We attract many of the best riders in the world who are passionate about the wellbeing of their horses. I have trialled the

Nina Barbour at the launch of the Theraplate UK sponsorship

Theraplate on my own horses, and have been very impressed by the results. It’s great to have TheraPlate UK on board.”

Theraplate UK will exhibit at the show and also be part of the dedicated sponsors area located close to the stables. This will give riders the opportunity to try the revolutionary plate therapy for themselves and also to sign up for the no obligation three week trial. www.liverpoolhorseshow.com

Frankie Stone and Dominic Fox of Theraplate UK with Nina Barbour

REPoRTS

The thrill of the chase Report by Sarah Skillin Returns to Suffolk Images by Lorraine Porter Photography.

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he Essex & Suffolk Hunt Fox Grant Team received a bumper entry for their annual Team Chase event. Manor Farm, Semer, yet again played host to the adrenaline fuelled fixture that saw 75 teams gallop across the Suffolk countryside, jumping every hedge that stood in their way.

The Fox Grand Dot Com team (William Grant, Claire Shuckelborough, Heather Moodie, Anna Stone) reigned supreme yet again as they successfully defended their Skinners Petfoods Open title.

Open winners Hundreds of spectators were treated to a thrilling display of fast paced riding and impressive turns. Setting a blistering time of 5 minutes 45 seconds the four-man team blew the competition away by a country mile.

“We are over the moon at Fox Grant Dot Com “The courses seemed defending to ride well and it was be very our Open close to lovely to see so many title for the the second year first time team chasers course against stiff record,“ enjoying themselves, as competition said team from Ride well as the pros really captain Away and attacking both the Open and William Relentless by Grant.

Intermediate courses...” over 9 William seconds! I Grant is think that this is the quickest we no stranger to the Suffolk hills have ever been in the 10 years with this being his fifth Open we have been coming and must title, taking two with Relentless

and now three with Fox Grant.

Charlotte Alexander had three chances to take the title as she led The Boring Gorings out with Saphir Du Rheu, and completed two rides with Team Rideaway.

Team Rideaway 1 providing her with their highest placing of second alongside team member Joe Stevenson who took on the demanding track four times, with only The Cunning Stunts not completing.

A change of plan brought good

fortune to Ye Old Shameless (Carrie-Anne Adams, Lisa Spence, Jane Buchan and Harry Macleod), who took the Intermediate Bogey win.

“It was great fun! We switched to the Bogey Time class because we all had our own reasons for just having a fun round, rather than gunning for a fast time. As it happened, we went at a good pace, stuck together and had a smooth, uneventful round - just what the doctor ordered for all the horses! To win was a great bonus,” commented Jane Buchan, advanced event rider and Baileys Horse Feeds Marketing Manager.

The Westford Wranglers (Julie Hayward, Peter Hayward, Chloe Miles and Franchesca Nunn) finished one second over the optimum time of 5 minutes 49 seconds to claim top honours in the hugely popular Novice Bogey, sponsored by All Seasons Fencing.

“We were thrilled with the way the day went,” confirmed organiser Gillie Cranfield. “The courses seemed to ride well and it was lovely to see so many first time team chasers enjoying themselves, as well as the pros really attacking both the Open and Intermediate courses. I would like to thank all of our amazing volunteers who make the day possible as well as our very generous sponsors.”

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Horseheath Horse Trials REPoRTS

Images by Richard Weller-Poley

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t was a chilly start to the weekend at Horseheath Horse Trials when an Arctic wind brought temperatures plummeting to just 2 degrees.

However it didn’t deter any of the 500 competitors who travelled from all over the country to compete over the 27th/28th October weekend, which had been postponed from August following the heatwave.

The ground preparations began weeks beforehand, aerovating, watering and mowing. Over the past two years the groundwork team has also developed a new glade, Wren’s Wood, to the top right of the course which was unveiled for the first time.

Winners from each BE100, BE105 and BE90 sections took home Tredstep numnahs, TopSpec Electrolytes and prize money. Prizes for the BE80 were kindly sponsored by Devoucoux who generously donated £100 vouchers, tack cleaning products, caps and keyring for those placed first - third.

Horseheath Horse Trials once again awarded rosettes for the highest place first-timer in each Caroline Day and Charlies Girl

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class. Godolphin Lifetime Care provided beautiful silver photo frames as prizes for the highest placed ROR registered thoroughbred.

The October 2018 course was designed by Tina Ure and built

by David Carpenter. As with April’s event there was a good focus on natural fences using wood sourced from the Thurlow estate. The Horseheath carved tree jump was particularly admired.

The Winners Not content to win the PwC BE100 Section A riding Indigo Blue II finishing on her dressage score of 31.3, Alex Postolowsky also won PwC BE100 Section C with 22.8 dressage and one pole SJ to finish on 26.8 on Freddie VIII, travelling from Market Rasen in Lincolnshire to do so.

Section B PwC BE100 winner was Jo Watts from Great Yarmouth with her horse Dark Legend finishing on a score of 27.5. Jo loved being able to take advantage of the late October scheduling of the event and found the ground going good.

She was particularly delighted to Alex Postolowsky and Indigo Blue II

clear the trakhener.

Binder sponsored Section D BE100 was won by Kate Hale from Reigate in Surrey and her horse Killacoran Blue. Kate was delighted to jump a double clear finishing on a score of 31.5.

New for October 2018 the PwC BE105 caused a few thrills and spills on the XC course with a few technical questions and challenges being asked.

Experienced eventer Lisa Spence from Halsted, Essex said, “The addition of the 105 class was great. This is the first time I have done a BE105. I used it to help bridge the gap between BE100 and novice. I thought the addition of the treble in the SJ and the additional technicalities XC was absolutely spot on.

Educational but not terrifying.”

The PwC Section E BE105 was won by Stella Burbidge and Jenga (DJingo S) from Norfolk who finished on a score of 38.2 and was thrilled to win at her first BE105.

Lily Beckley won Section F PwC BE105 finishing on her dressage score of 29.3 with her 14.2hh pony Ballyknock Boy. She thought the XC course was the

toughest they have competed to date and was particularly pleased to get over the skinny brushes in the combinations which she felt were the hardest questions on the course. The triple in the showjumping was also an accomplishment on her pony trying to cover the ground of a horse stride.

NFU Section G BE90 was won by Kent based rider Ellie Crosbie and her horse Bellabrix III winning on a personal best dressage score of 20.3. Bella is Ellie’s last homebred, her previous two homebreds finished their last seasons with wins, so this felt particularly special. Ellie likened the course to a mini Barbury and promised to come back.

Mollie Harris won the NFU Section H BE90 with Winterdown Shutterfly finishing on her dressage score 30.5.

Mollie, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, has only had her new horse for a short time and this was only her second event so she was very pleased to win.

Julie Horton from Roxwell in Essex won the NFU BE90 Section I with Topwood Merlin finishing on a score of 27.3. She thought it was a fantastic event with brilliant going for this late in the season. She was

Alex Postolowsky and Freddie VIII

to get to the end of the XC course with a double clear, finishing on her dressage score of 30.8.

Competitor feedback following the event was overwhelmingly supportive with many comments congratulating the team on the friendliness of the event, the great organisation, an exciting XC course and perfect particularly nervous as two years Finishing the season on a win ground. after starting her season with a ago at an unaffiliated event at "Without a doubt the best run win was a highlight. This is the Horseheath she broke her arm event I’ve been to all season! so felt that the win has changed third win in a row for I Dunno Thank you to all the hard with three out of three wins. She her luck here. working volunteers who gave up finishes the season as the The NFU Section J BE90 was their weekend to brave the cold leading rider in the British won by Charlotte Gramphorn so that we could enjoy the Eventing Foundation league. with Fifty Shades of Blue event! Can’t wait to come back The Saffrey Champness Section finishing with a score of 31. again next year,” said Stephanie M and Section N BE80s were Charlotte from Oakham in Key. Rutland thought her horse loved both won by Caroline Day from “First time Dressage writing the going and felt fantastic in all Bury St Edmunds with two today and loved it. Can’t wait to double clears. Section M with three phases with her best come again and do it again next her horse Charlies Girl who was dressage score to date. She is year. More should volunteer it back after an injury finishing on excited for next season. really is very rewarding and Section K NFU BE90 was won by 32.8 and Section N with her wonderful to see the Summer Nicholls with a score of baby horse 4-year-old Bellagio competition from the other side 99 finishing on 30. “It has been 26.5 and her horse Turfhurst of it! Everyone was so friendly Purplerain (Roo). Summer from lovely seeing him develop this and welcoming,” said Sophie season and grow in confidence Leigh-on-Sea is no stranger to Pettit. he’s a very exciting prospect for dressage as she and Roo “Thank you Horseheath for such regularly compete with BYRDS. the future,” said Caroline. a brilliant event this weekend Scarlett Lloyd won the Saffrey The Taylor Vintners BE90 Open and to everyone for all their hard Champness BE80 Section O with Section L was won by Melissa work to make it possible.

Joannides and her horse I Dunno her 18-year-old horse Tender VE. Beautiful location, great ground This was only his second BE in from West Sussex finishing on and fab XC course, so well run,” eleven years so she was thrilled her dressage score of 29.3. commented Alyson Parker.

Stella Burbidge and Jenga

Caroline Day and Bellagio 99

Summer Nicholls and Turfhurst Purplerain

Jo Watts and Dark Legend

Julie Horton and Topwood Merlin

Lily Beckley and Ballyknock Boy

Mollie Harris and Winterdown Shutterfly

Charlotte Gramphorn and Fifty Shades of Blue

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Photos: SMR Photos

REPoRTS

NEW MOUNTAIN AND MOORLAND SEARCH FOR A STAR Falcon swoops to take the inaugural SEIB Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland Championship

he first ever SEIB Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland Championship took place at Your Horse Live at Stoneleigh Park on the 9th November.

Chantelle Chapman riding her mother Victoria Oliver’s Fell pony, Greenholme Falcon took this brand-new title in the BETA arena at Your Horse Live in front of an enthusiastic audience.

SEIB Insurance Brokers have set up the new Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland championship with the help of Your Horse Live to create more opportunities for amateur riders at a national championship level.

There was added anticipation for the Search for a Star Mountain

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and Moorland final as it was the first ever championship competition to take place at Your Horse Live. The BETA arena truly provided a real feel of the big occasion for each of the Search for a Star finalists.

Amateur riders and their Mountain and Moorland ponies have travelled the length and breadth of the country since the first Search for a Star qualifier back in April in their quest to get through to this new final at Your Horse Live. Fifteen ponies qualified and fourteen went in front of Judges Sandy Wooderson and Matthew Lawrence at the final. Both Judges upheld the tradition at Search for a Star finals of talking into a microphone and sharing their thoughts with the

audience. Their reflections provided a fascinating insight into the breeds and what is expected when showing Mountain and Moorlands.

The winner, Greenholme Falcon has been owned by Victoria Oliver for just eighteen months.

This 7-year-old Fell pony was piloted to victory very ably by 13-year-old Chantelle who was the youngest rider in the final.

Matthew Lawrence said: “Our winner caught my eye upon entering the ring. He is a lovely true to type pony that was beautifully ridden.” This foot perfect performance from Greenholme Falcon who is known at home as Dan was the result of plenty of hard work from Chantelle in the run up to the show. Chantelle’s mother, Victoria said: “Chantelle hasn’t stopped smiling since the class.

She is very competitive and likes everything spot on. This has

been a brilliant experience for her and she is really learning that hard work pays off! We went to the Search for a Star training day in September and Chantelle got some really good tips including learning more about the importance of standing the pony up correctly.”

Chantelle is now very excited about next season and she and Dan will be aiming at qualifiers for the Royal International Horse Show and Horse of the Year Show. The pair also compete in unaffiliated showjumping and crosscountry classes when they are not busy in the show ring.

Chantelle is a Manningtree High School student, she is very dedicated with her school work too and always gets her homework done as quickly as possible so she can get out riding and looking after the horses.

Chantelle said, “I’m going to work hard over winter with Dan and hopefully we can make it to the Royal International and Horse of the Year Show in the junior classes. This was an amazing experience and the team at SEIB were all so nice.

Anyone with an interest in showing should give it a go.

“I am so grateful for the support I get from my mum and step dad, without them I couldn’t do any of this and it has taught me that working hard gets you amazing results.”

New Forest pony Buckland Romantic took the runner up spot in the Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland final.

Ridden by her owner, Emma Staton, Kara, as the mare is known at home took everything

at Your Horse Live in her stride.

Taking third place was Megan White riding Suzanne White’s dun Connemara gelding, Thunderbolt Bairy Robin Bambi.

The different breeds were well represented across the top places in the Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland final. In fourth place was Welsh Section D pony, Sheir Whisky owned and ridden by Hemel Hempsted’s Karen Badrick. This pair are also fairly new to showing. Karen said: “I bought Sheir Whisky two and a halfyears-ago unbroken to get going and sell on, but he has turned out to be an absolute superstar – he definitely has a home for life!”

Dales pony, Lowhouses Chesney, owned and ridden by Kirstie Hinton finished in fifth place in the Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland final. This pair won their qualifier at Stretcholt Equestrian Centre to qualify for the finals.

In sixth place was Charlotte Marshall with her own, Pentrefelin Ladykiller. Charlotte has owned this Welsh Section D, known as Charlie for five years.

Molly Broadley with her own Highland gelding, Dexter of Rocklea finished the Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland Championship in seventh place.

Molly has owned Dexter for just nine months. In eighth place was another Dales pony, Westwick Sam, ridden by Philippa Dawson-Coates and owned by Amanda Batey.

The SEIB Search for a Star Mountain and Moorland Championship is open to purebred Mountain and Moorland

Judges Matthew Lawrence and Sandy Wooderson with Chantelle Chapmanand Dan.

RoR Showcase Inspires Owners Retraining Former Racehorses

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ponies ridden by amateur riders.

SEIB Marketing Manager Nicolina Mackenzie said: “We are truly delighted to be able to give amateur Mountain and Moorland enthusiasts this opportunity to compete for a national showing title at Your Horse Live. Search for a Star is now in its 22nd year and we are continually looking at ways to include more riders in the series and help them achieve their dreams. We have been searching for a venue for the M&M’s for decades and we hoped the renowned Mrs Pat Campbell would be involved but unfortunately that was not possible however she was in our thoughts. Personally, I am extremely grateful to Emma Bedford at Your Horse Live for giving us this opportunity. It is extremely difficult to find the ‘big occasion’ that really gives amateur riders the truly special experience that Horse of the

Year show provides and Your Horse Live definitely came up to the mark. The competitors have all said what a wonderful time they have had and how special they have been made to feel.

That in my opinion is what it is all about; not everyone can win but everyone should have a good time, by the way, I don’t think the shopping hurt either!”

Expert advice and support from the very experienced Judges is on hand for all competitors at the qualifiers and during the Championship build up there is the renowned Search for a Star training day for all qualified combinations. The Championships provide a learning opportunity for both spectators and competitors as the Judges will use microphones to give their thoughts and explain their decisions.

etraining of Racehorses (RoR) recently held the first RoR Showcase at the Aintree Equestrian Centre.

The event supported by The Racing Foundation, was attended by three hundred owners and prospective owners of former racehorses.

The Main Arena at Aintree Equestrian Centre provided a fantastic venue to host a total of eleven demonstrations and clinics from top trainers and experts from the equine world.

Olympic Silver medallist Jeanette Brakewell provided a day with brilliant instruction in both her demos covering schooling former racehorses over poles and then later in the day the progression to eventing.

Top show producer Katie JerramHunnable gave insight into the world of showing in her demos, sharing her experience and expertise using both a novice horse and covered some finer points with an established open horse. RoR Elite Champion Wild West and rider Lizzie Harris took part along with former Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase Winner Annacotty with his rider Hannah Bishop.

The RoR Showcase also gave many visitors the chance to get one-toone advice from trainers during the day in the Ask The Expert Lounge.

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REPoRTS ICENI EGB GROUP, ENDURANCE ROUND UP 2018

t has been another highly successful and enjoyable year for members of the local Iceni Endurance Great Britain Group.

Riders from this region have been out and about from April until October, taking part in competitive and pleasure rides of varying distances and levels from 10k pleasure rides, 32k competitive rides, right up to FEI international 3* rides of 160k.

In total 8 competitive rides were held in the Iceni host counties of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, which this year included the Pony Club National Endurance Championships, held in August during three exciting days of national and international endurance competition at Euston Park’s H Power Festival of Endurance. (EGB Iceni would love to see more East Anglian pony club members taking up this accessible, friendly and enjoyable sport and there is plenty of information to be found on the Pony Club website.)

A new competitive ride was introduced in May at Finchingfield, Essex and the final Iceni competitive ride of the season was the Lavenham (formerly Boyton Hall) Ride which, for the first time, included an 80k 1* FEI ride. This is a glorious ride, through some of the prettiest scenery in Suffolk.

Although entries were low this year, those who took part agreed it was one of the most enjoyable rides they had ever undertaken and said that they would definitely be back next year - we

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Claire Freeman and Arabian History - runners up in the 2018 National Endurance Championship

hope that many more riders will enter this special event in 2019.

Non-competitive Pleasure Ride classes were also held at most of the competitive rides, as well as stand alone Pleasure Rides that did not include a competitive element, notably at Poplar Park, North Norfolk and Spains Hall. A further pre-Christmas Pleasure Ride is on 2nd December at Forest Edge.

Coveted Graded ride red grade 1 rosettes and Competitive Ride (first past the post with a sound horse) placings and completions were awarded to local riders as follows: Kings Forest 13th-15th April: 32k: Valerie Chaplin and One Way, Karen Day and Aberllwyd Satra, Kim Plumb and Frank’s Rosie, Ella Pomroy and Redwings Milky Way, Nicky Thorne and Kerewong Rubaiyat. 40k: Hayley Lewis and Pacific Syrah, Lucinda Peck and Karlos du Carou, Emma Pleasance and Florence. 64k: Keighley Pomroy and Hathek. 80k: Sally Jones and Rowdy Cowgirl, Tracy Sawyer and Miracle. 80k Competitive: Rachael Cratchley and Open t’Offers successful completion.

128k 3 day ride: Claire Freeman and Arabian History. FEI 80k: 1* second place Nicky Thorne and LM Crazy

Rik Lowe and Ella enjoying an Iceni pleasure ride

Girl.

Woodbridge Ride 5th-6th May: 32k: Lucy Surridge and Baya Bliss, Greta Verkerk on Kamilcia. 64k: Janice Morton and Mamanuca May. Windsor Horse Show 11th May: FEI 120k 2*: Nicky Thorne and LM Crazy Girl twelth place.

Finchingfield 27th May: 64k: Claire Freeman and Arabian History.

Keysoe, Bedfordshire 17th June: 30k: Lucy Surridge and Baya Bliss.

40k: Greta Verkerk and LM Crazy Girl.

80k: Claire Freeman and Arabian History.

Euston Park 23rd June: 80k FEI 1*: Heather Weston and Vlaq Flint Accolade thirteenth place, Nicky Thorne and LM Bolena eighth place.

120k FEI 2*: Nicky Thorne and LM Asherta tenth place.

Kings Forest 6th-8th July: 40k: Hayley Lewis and Pacific Syrah.

128k 3 day ride: Claire Freeman and Arabian History. FEI 160k 3* Nicky Thorne and LM Bolena successful coompletion.

Euston Park 4th-5th August: 40k: Nicky Thorne and Kerewong Rubaiyat, Ella Pomroy and Redwings Milky Way, Hayley Lewis and Pacific Syrah, Elaine Wallbridge and Against The Rules, Hannah Verkerk and LM Crazy Girl.

Euston Park 17th-19th August: 32k: Kirsty Milczarek and Focail Maith, Lucy Surridge on Baya Bliss.

Photos: Event to Event Photography

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56k: Ella Pomroy and Redwings Milky Way. 80k: Gemma Conn and Hugo. 80k FEI 1*: Keighley Pomroy and Hathek ninth place, Sally Jones and Rowdy Cowgirl, Nicky Thorne and LM Asherta and Rachael Cratchley and Alphyn all successfully completed. 120k FEI 2*: Nicky Thorne on Kamilicia.

Lavenham Ride 1st-2nd September: 81k: Claire Freeman and Arabian History Three Shires Way Ride Beds 9th September: 50k: Janice Morton and Mamanuca May. Lions Tail Ride Leics 15th-16th September: 82k: Claire Freeman and Arabian History.

This incredible combination of Essex grandmother and her delightful ex racehorse also scooped second place for the second year running in the Endurance Great Britain National Senior Championship which is decided by a cumulative total of points obtained during the whole season for both distances ridden and grades achieved many congratulations to them both and to all our local riders who have achieved so much this year. on www.endurancegb.co.uk

Well done to Leah!

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eah Fitton of Suffolk Hunt Pony Club and her pony Harry reached the final for the Devoucoux Challenge, which is a competition for Area 8 pony club members which has been running for three years in collaboration with Devoucoux and Piggy French.

The competition works by collating a score based on pony club rallies attended, competitions entered and places in those competitions. Leah was lucky enough to be shortlisted in the top four which meant she was invited to attend a day at Piggy French’s yard in Northamptonshire, where the finalists would be coached by Piggy, have a tour of her yard with the opportunity to meet some top class eventing horses, get to ride in some amazing Devoucoux saddles and be allowed to use her facilities such as the gallops.

Leah and Harry went recently and had an amazing day - she found spending the day with Piggy really inspiring, she was in awe of her yard and was lucky enough to see Piggy’s World Equestrian Games medal!

Devoucoux provided all the four finalists with a goody bag and It was also announced that Leah and Harry had the highest score and so were the winners of the challenge so they received a £300 gift voucher to spend on Devoucoux products.

Apple

Ol i v e r

EXCEPTIONAL MOMENTS OF THE MONTH CAPTURED

By Sophie Harris

As we are coming to the end of the year (where has 2018 gone?!) I thought I would share my 3 favourite equine portraits of the year…

In the next issue I will be sharing my favourite events photographs of 2018. Anyway before that Jessica and Robin there is the small matter of the festivities so I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and the New Year brings you everything that you wish for!

See you next month … Sophie

www.instagram.com/seh__photography/ www.sehphotography.co.uk www.facebook.com/SEHphotographyUK/

Dodson & Horrell 95cm National Amateur Second Rounds at Anvil Park Stud EC

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he Dodson & Horrell National Amateur Second Rounds at Anvil Park Equestrian Centre in Norwich, Norfolk saw competitors compete in the 95cm Second Rounds.

Qualification for the Dodson & Horrell National Amateur Championships, held at Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool during November, was in everyone’s sights.

Lucy Price from Kings Lynn produced the sole double clear in the Dodson & Horrell 95cm National Amateur Second Round with Cool Courage. Six combinations produced first round clears over course designer Toby Bancroft’s 9-fence-track. Riding her own 14-year-yld grey mare Cool Courage, Lucy produced a steady but accurate clear in the jump-off to take the victory.

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Your Showdate listings for...Dec 2018/Jan2019 SATURDAY 1ST DECEMBER DRESSAGE Essex: Barleylands EC; Team Quest Dressage. Tel: 07545 010770 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; British Dressage. Tel: 07879 881755 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Easton & Otley College; British Dressage. Tel: 01603 732316 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Beds: Twin Trees EC; Mini Showjumping. Tel: 01767 627414 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01760 722616 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07759 603120 SUNDAY 2ND DECEMBER DRESSAGE Cambs: Fenning Farm EC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01353 727109 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07879 881755 DRESSAGE Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07592 742369 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400

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SHOWJUMPING Beds: Twin Trees EC; Showjumping. Tel: 01767 627414 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Wix EC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 01255 870744 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 01760 722616 MONDAY 3RD DECEMBER DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Dressage.

Tel: 07595 023325 TUESDAY 4TH DECEMBER SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 WEDNESDAY 5TH DECEMBER SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Wix EC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 01255 870744 FRIDAY 7TH DECEMBER DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; British Dressage.

Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands EC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07545 010770 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Open Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07592 742369 SATURDAY 8TH DECEMBER DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Dressage.

Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; British

Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Cash Showjumping. Tel: 01760 722616 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Cross Pole and Mini Showjumping. Tel: 07592 742369 SUNDAY 9TH DECEMBER ARENA EVENTING Beds: The College EC; Arena Eventing. Tel: 01234 708400 ARENA EVENTING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Arena Eventing. Tel: 01449 744482 DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07595 023325 DRESSAGE Essex: Harolds Park Farm; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07775 516945 DRESSAGE Essex: Wix EC; CVRC Team Dressage. Tel: 01255 870744 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01760 722616 DRESSAGE Suffolk: Centaur Trust: Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07881 802129 FUN SHOW Essex: Barleylands EC; Xmas Fun Show. Tel: 07545 010770 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; NSEA Showjumping. Tel: 07759 603120 TUESDAY 11TH DECEMBER SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 WEDNESDAY 12TH DECEMBER

www.copdockmill.co.uk

DRESSAGE Norfolk: Easton & Otley College; Evening Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01603 732316 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 THURSDAY 13TH DECEMBER DRSSAGE Essex: Wix EC; Dressage. Tel: 01255 870744 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Evening Clear Round Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 FRIDAY 14TH DECEMBER SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands EC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07545 010770 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Novice Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07592 742369 SATURDAY 15TH DECEMBER ARENA EVENTING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Christmas Arena Eventing.

Tel: 07592 742369 DRESSAGE Essex: Barleylands EC; Christmas Dressage. Tel: 07545 010770 EVENTER TRIAL Beds: Twin Trees EC; Mini Arena Eventer Trial. Tel: 01767 627414 FUN SHOW Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; Unaffiliated Christmas Fun Show. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWING Beds: The College EC; Showing. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 01760 722616 SUNDAY 16TH DECEMBER EVENTER TRIAL Beds: Twin Trees EC; Arena Eventer Trial. Tel: 01767 627414

SHoWDATE DIARy SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Lime Kiln Farm EC; Christmas Showjumping. Tel: 07749 951898 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Open Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07592 742369 SATURDAY 22ND DECEMBER FUN SHOW Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Christmas Fun Show. Tel: 01760 722616 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Mini Showjumping. Tel: 07592 742369 SUNDAY 23RD DECEMBER EVENTER TRIAL Beds: The College EC; Eventer Trial. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; Cash Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Christmas Showjumping. Tel: 07592 742369 TUESDAY 25TH DECEMBER MERRY CHRISTMAS!

28th-31st December Charlotte Dujardin will compete at Liverspool International Horseshow www.liverpoolhorseshow.com

FRIDAY 28TH DECEMBER SHOWJUMPING Essex: Wix EC; Very Novice Showjumping. Tel: 01255 870744 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Lime Kiln Farm EC; Christmas Showjumping. Tel: 07749 951898 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; Novice Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07592 742369 SATURDAY 29TH DECEMBER DRIVING Essex: Wix EC; Indoor Driving World Cup. Tel: 01473 735732 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOW Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Unaffiliated Showing / Showjumping. Tel: 01760 722616 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; New Year Showjumping. Tel: 07592 742369

30th December Wix Equestrian Centre Intro to Polocrosse www.pcarea8polocrosse.com SUNDAY 30TH DECEMBER SHOW Beds: Twin Trees EC; Christmas Show. Tel: 01767 627414 SHOW Essex: Brook Farm TC; End of Year Extravaganza. Tel: 07595 023325 TUESDAY 1ST JANUARY HAPPY NEW YEAR! SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 WEDNESDAY 2ND JANUARY SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 FRIDAY 4TH JANUARY

www.copdockmill.co.uk

1st January London's New Year's Day Parade www.allthequeenshorses.co.uk

Photo By Jo Monck

SHOW Essex: Brook Farm TC; Christmas Show. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOW Essex: Wix EC; Christmas Showg. Tel: 01255 870744 SHOWING Beds: The College EC; Showing. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands EC; Christmas Showjumping. Tel: 07545 010770 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Harolds Park Farm; Unaffiliated Showjumping.

Tel: 07775 516945 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Forest Edge Arena; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 01760 722616 MONDAY 17TH DECEMBER DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Dressage.

Tel: 07595 023325 TUESDAY 18TH DECEMBER DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; British Dressage.

Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; British Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 WEDNESDAY 19TH DECEMBER DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01234 708400 DRESSAGE Suffolk: Topthorn Arena; British Dressage. Tel: 07592 742369 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 THURSDAY 20TH DECEMBER SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 FRIDAY 21ST DECEMBER SHOWJUMPING Essex: Wix EC; Essex & Suffolk PC Showjumping. Tel: 01255 870744

DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; British Dressage.

Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands EC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07545 010770 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Lime Kiln Farm EC; Christmas Showjumping. Tel: 07749 951898 SATURDAY 5TH JANUARY DRESSAGE Norfolk: Easton & Otley College; British Dressage. Tel: 01603 732316 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SUNDAY 6TH JANUARY DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07879 881755 EVENTER TRIAL Beds: The College EC; Eventer Trial. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOW Essex: Brook Farm TC; New Year Show. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWING Essex: Harolds Park Farm; Winter Showing Show. Tel: 07775 516945 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Wix EC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 01255 870744

65

SHoWDATE DIARy MONDAY 7TH JANUARY DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Dressage.

Tel: 07595 023325 WEDNESDAY 9TH JANUARY SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400.SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Wix EC; Evening Showjumping.

Tel: 01255 870744 THURSDAY 10TH JANUARY SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Evening Clear Round Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 FRIDAY 11TH JANUARY SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Evening Clear Round Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands EC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07545 010770SATURDAY 12TH JANUARY DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07595 023325 DRESSAGE Suffolk: Centaur Trust: Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07881 802129 SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SUNDAY 13TH JANUARY ARENA EVENTING Suffolk: Boyton Hall EC; Arena Eventing. Tel: 01449 744482 DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; British Dressage. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07759 603120

66

SPONSORED BY MONDAY 14TH JANUARY SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 TUESDAY 15TH JANUARY DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; British Dressage.

Tel: 01234 708400 WEDNESDAY 16TH JANUARY DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 FRIDAY 18TH JANUARY SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands EC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07545 010770 SATURDAY 19TH JANUARY ARENA EVENTING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; Arena Eventing. Tel: 07879 881755 DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; British Dressage.

Tel: 01234 708400 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Easton & Otley College; British Dressage. Tel: 01603 732316 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Junior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SUNDAY 20TH JANUARY DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01234 708400 DRESSAGE Essex: Harolds Park Farm; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07775 516945 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; Unaffiliated

Showjumping. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Suffolk: The Jays; NSEA Showjumping.

Tel: 07759 603120 MONDAY 21ST JANUARY DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Dressage.

Tel: 07595 023325 WEDNESDAY 23RD JANUARY SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; British Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 THURSDAY 24TH JANUARY SHOWJUMPING Beds: The College EC; Evening Clear Round Showjumping. Tel: 01234 708400 FRIDAY 25TH JANUARY DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; British Dressage.

Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands EC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07545 010770 SATURDAY 26TH JANUARY DRESSAGE Essex: Brook Farm TC; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07595 023325 SUNDAY 27TH JANUARY ARENA EVENTING Suffolk: The Jays; Arena Eventing. Tel: 07759 603120 EVENTER TRIAL Beds: The College EC; Eventer Trial. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 TUESDAY 29TH JANUARY DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; British Dressage.

Tel: 01234 708400

www.copdockmill.co.uk

WEDNESDAY 30TH JANUARY DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; Affiliated and Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 THURSDAY 31ST JANUARY CAR BOOT Beds: The College EC; Equestrian Car Boot. Tel: 01234 708400 FRIDAY 1ST FEBRUARY DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; British Dressage.

Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Barleylands EC; Evening Showjumping. Tel: 07545 010770 SATURDAY 2ND FEBRUARY DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; British Dressage.

Tel: 01234 708400 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Senior British Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SUNDAY 3RD FEBRUARY DRESSAGE Beds: The College EC; British Dressage.

Tel: 01234 708400 DRESSAGE Norfolk: Anvil Park Stud; Unaffiliated Dressage. Tel: 07879 881755 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Brook Farm TC; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07595 023325 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Harolds Park Farm; Unaffiliated Showjumping. Tel: 07775 516945 SHOWJUMPING Essex: Wix EC; Unaffiliated Showjumping.

Tel: 01255 870744